1. Verb Tense Shifts © One Stop Teacher Shop
If the pink gorilla eats watermelon every night, how much watermelons does he eat?
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2. What is a verb tense shift?
A verb tense shift is a shift in time. For example, from present to past, or past to future tense.
Sometimes such shifts make perfect sense, as when one describes an event that takes place before another event:
Example: At the first Fall concert, the chorus will sing a few songs that they learned over the summer.
future tense
past tense
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3. Oops!
Sometimes writers slip up and shift tenses when there should be no shift, as in the following examples.
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4. Example
Incorrect: The football team was good, and is still improving. Correct: The football team is good, and is still improving.
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5. Example
Incorrect: Last semester, I had more homework in math than I have in all my other classes combined. Correct: Last semester, I had more homework in math than in all my other classes combined.
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6. How can we keep this from happening?
One way to avoid inappropriate shifts in verb tense is to visualize the actions described: Does one event really occur before another, or are they happening at the same time? Apply this strategy in the following examples.
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7. Example Incorrect: The suit didn't fit me; it is too small.
Correct: The suit doesn't fit me; it is too small. (the suit continues not to fit)
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8. Example
Incorrect: Though I admired her persistence, I cannot tolerate her bad sportsmanship.
Correct: Though I admire her persistence, I cannot tolerate her bad sportsmanship. (I continue to admire her persistence)
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9. Example Incorrect: The wind died down and the waves roll gently.
If the pink gorilla eats watermelon every night, how much watermelons does he eat?
Incorrect: The wind died down and the waves roll gently.
Correct: The wind died down and the waves rolled gently. (“and" suggests actions are happening at the same time.)
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10. Example
Incorrect: I liked him because he always says what he thinks. Correct: I like him because he always says what he thinks. (I continue to like him)
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