1. This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes
This presentation is brought to you by Grammar Bytes!, ©2013 by Robin L. Simmons.
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2. Tense Shift Do I use the present tense to maintain consistency?
Or do I need the past tense instead?

3. This presentation covers recognizing appropriate verb tenses for a given time frame or context.

4. A tense shift item on an objective test might look like this . . .

5. Sample Item When King was a puppy, he chewed toys A
and furniture. Now that he is an adult, he B
wanted to chew the mail carrier most of all. C is
was
wants
No change is necessary.
When King was a puppy, he chewed toys A
and furniture. Now that he is an adult, he B
wants to chew the mail carrier most of all. C is
was
wants
No change is necessary.
When King was a puppy, he chewed toys
and furniture. Now that he is an adult, he
wanted to chew the mail carrier most of all. is
was
wants
No change is necessary.
Wanted should be present tense, a correction option C makes.
Is was, is, or wanted in the wrong tense?
had been
will be
wants
No change is necessary.

6. When logic permits, you can mix past/present tenses with future.
Because he went to the gym today, Jeffrey will reward himself with a triple bacon cheeseburger for lunch. After he weighs himself tomorrow, he will regret the poor food choice.
Because I ate badly, I will have to do more crunches at the gym.

7. Could/would = past tense of can/will.
Jeffrey thought he would have enough energy for his workout, but skipping breakfast meant that he could not complete his training.
Jeffrey thought he will have enough energy for his workout, but skipping breakfast meant that he cannot complete his training.
Jeffrey thought he will have enough energy for his workout, but skipping breakfast meant that he cannot complete his training.
You would have had the same problem!

8. You think you’re tough? Show me your tense strength.
Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose the option that corrects an error in the underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose “No change is necessary.”
You think you’re tough? Show me your tense strength.

9. Item 1 Aunt Lillian had frozen four quarts of her A
homegrown strawberries, but she lost them after B
the hurricane knocked out power for eight C
days.
froze
had lost
knocked
No change is necessary.
Aunt Lillian had frozen four quarts of her A
homegrown strawberries, but she lost them after B
the hurricane was knocking out power for eight C
days.
froze
had lost
knocked
No change is necessary.
Aunt Lillian had frozen four quarts of her
homegrown strawberries, but she lost them after
the hurricane was knocking out power for eight
days.
froze
had lost
knocked
No change is necessary.
froze
had lost
knocked
No change is necessary.

10. Item 2
Because Sammy had been eating all of the chocolate mint ice cream before she got home, Roxanne whacked him over the head.
ate
was eating
had eaten
No change is necessary.
Because Sammy had been eating all of the chocolate mint ice cream before she got home, Roxanne whacked him over the head.
ate
was eating
had eaten
No change is necessary.
Because Sammy had been eating all of the chocolate mint ice cream before she got home, Roxanne whacked him over the head.
ate
was eating
had eaten
No change is necessary.

11. Item 3 Carlos pawed at his hair and shook his head, but A B
he could not dislodge the giant spider tangled in C
his curls.
was pawing
was shaking
could not
No change is necessary.
Carlos pawed at his hair and shook his head, but
A B
he cannot dislodge the giant spider tangled in C
his curls.
was pawing
was shaking
could not
No change is necessary.
Carlos pawed at his hair and shook his head, but
he cannot dislodge the giant spider tangled in
his curls.
was pawing
was shaking
could not
No change is necessary.
was pawing
was shaking
could not
No change is necessary.

12. Item 4
Grandpa planted a backyard garden, hoping that it was helping with the high cost of food.
will help
would help
helped
No change is necessary.
Grandpa planted a backyard garden, hoping that it was helping with the high cost of food.
will help
would help
helped
No change is necessary.
Grandpa planted a backyard garden, hoping that it was helping with the high cost of food.
will help
would help
helped
No change is necessary.

13. Item 5 When Gretchen was a freshman, she wanted to A B
major in biology, but after her first rat dissection,
she couldn’t change her major fast enough. C
had been
was wanting
cannot
No change is necessary.
When Gretchen was a freshman, she wanted to
A B
major in biology, but after her first rat dissection,
she couldn’t change her major fast enough. C
had been
was wanting
cannot
No change is necessary.
When Gretchen was a freshman, she wanted to
major in biology, but after her first rat dissection,
she couldn’t change her major fast enough.
had been
was wanting
cannot
No change is necessary.
had been
had wanted
cannot
No change is necessary.

14. Item 6
Everyone is sleeping soundly when Brendan dropped the glass pitcher of lemonade on the stone tiles of the kitchen floor.
had been sleeping
slept
would sleep
No change is necessary.
Everyone is sleeping soundly when Brendan dropped the glass pitcher of lemonade on the stone tiles of the kitchen floor.
had been sleeping
slept
would sleep
No change is necessary.
Everyone is sleeping soundly when Brendan dropped the glass pitcher of lemonade on the stone tiles of the kitchen floor.
had been sleeping
slept
would sleep
No change is necessary.

15. Item 7 Ancient Egyptians spent their entire lives preparing A
for their death and burial. Today, however, people
think that such arrangements are morbid
B C
and impolite to discuss.
were spending
think
would be
No change is necessary.
Ancient Egyptians spent their entire lives preparing A
for their death and burial. Today, however, people
are thinking that such arrangements are morbid
B C
and impolite to discuss.
were spending
think
would be
No change is necessary.
Ancient Egyptians spent their entire lives preparing
for their death and burial. Today, however, people
are thinking that such arrangements are morbid
and impolite to discuss.
were spending
think
would be
No change is necessary.
were spending
think
would be
No change is necessary.

16. Item 8
When Felicia saw the turtle trying to cross the busy road, she leaped out of her car and had carried the reptile to safety at the other side.
was carrying
carried
will carry
No change is necessary.
When Felicia saw the turtle trying to cross the busy road, she leaped out of her car and had carried the reptile to safety at the other side.
was carrying
carried
will carry
No change is necessary.
When Felicia saw the turtle trying to cross the busy road, she leaped out of her car and had carried the reptile to safety at the other side.
was carrying
carried
will carry
No change is necessary.

17. Item 9 George Washington believed that he was invincible A
in battle. He rode a conspicuous white horse that B
made him an easy target, yet no bullet hit him, C
validating his conviction of invulnerability.
had believed
was riding
hit
No change is necessary.
George Washington believed that he was invincible A
in battle. He rode a conspicuous white horse that B
made him an easy target, yet no bullet had hit him, C
validating his conviction of invulnerability.
had believed
was riding
hit
No change is necessary.
George Washington believed that he was invincible
in battle. He rode a conspicuous white horse that
made him an easy target, yet no bullet had hit him,
validating his conviction of invulnerability.
had believed
was riding
hit
No change is necessary.
had believed
was riding
had hit
No change is necessary.

18. Item 10
We would have bite marks on our ankles and scratches on our thighs ever since adopting Nelson, our feisty kitten.
had
have
will have
No change is necessary.
We would have bite marks on our ankles and scratches on our thighs ever since adopting Nelson, our feisty kitten.
had
have
will have
No change is necessary.
We would have bite marks on our ankles and scratches on our thighs ever since adopting Nelson, our feisty kitten.
had
have
will have
No change is necessary.

19. The End.