©2010 Robin L. Simmons, Grammar Bytes!

1. Tense Shift
Do I use the
Or do I need
present tense
the past
to maintain
tense instead?
consistency?

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

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

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

5. Use present/present perfect tense to
indicate current/regular action.
Present tense: verb + s = singular; verb + Ø =
plural.
Present perfect tense: has or have + past
participle
Jeffrey goes to the gym six days a week where he
has gained not only muscle but also discipline.
I have gained
attention from
women too!

6. Use past perfect to indicate a past
action that occurred before another
Past tense: regular = verb + ed; irregular forms
vary.
Past perfect tense: had + past participle
Jeffrey had lifted free weights for over an hour
before someone mentioned the rip in his
shorts.
It’s a good
thing I have
cute
glutes.

7. Use progressive tenses to indicate
an ongoing action that occurs as
another action happens.
Progressive tenses: form of be + verb + ing
Jeffrey was showing off when he tore a muscle
in his shoulder.
Ouch!

8. 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.

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

10. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20. Item 10
We wouldhave bite marks on our ankles and
would have bite marks on our ankles and
scratches on our thighs ever since adopting
Nelson, our feisty kitten.
A.had
B.have
B.have
C.will have
D.No change is necessary.

21. The End.