Consistency in Using Verb Tenses

Do not shift verb tenses unnecessarily. If you begin writing a paper in the present tense, do not shift suddenly to the past.

If you begin in the past, do not shift without reason to the present.

Consistency With Verb Tense

Incorrect: Jean punched down the risen yeast dough in the bowl. Then she dumps it onto the floured worktable and kneaded it into a smooth, shiny ball.

Correct: Jean punches down the risen yeast dough in the bowl. Then she dumps it onto the floured worktable and kneads it into a smooth, shiny ball.

Correct: Jean punched down the risen yeast dough in the bowl. Then she dumped it onto the floured worktable and kneaded it into a smooth, shiny ball.

Incorrect: When we finished our lunch, we decide to take a walk.

Correct: When we finished our lunch, we decided to take a walk.

Incorrect: Last year, the governor said he is campaigning for our candidate.

Correct: Last year, the governor said he would campaign for our candidate, or

Last year the governor said he was campaigning for our candidate.

Incorrect: When we finished our lunch, we decide to take a walk.

Correct: When we finished our lunch, we decided to take a walk.

Incorrect: Last year, the governor said he is campaigning for our candidate.

Correct: Last year, the governor said he would campaign for our candidate, or

Last year the governor said he was campaigning for our candidate.

1. Aunt Jane tried to kiss her little nephew, but he runs out of the room.

2. An aggressive news photographer knocked a reporter to the ground as the movie stars arrives for the Academy Awards.

3. The winning wheelchair racer in the marathon slumped back in exhaustion and asks for some ice to soothe his blistered hands.

4. On the commercial for mail-order kitchen knives, an actor cuts a tree branch in half and slices an aluminum can into ribbons.

5. “My husband is so dumb,” said Martha, “that when he went to Las Vegas, he tries to play the machines.”

6. The Jeep swerved around the corner, went up on two wheels, and tips over on its side.

7. In a zero-gravity atmosphere, water breaks up into droplets and floated around in space.

8. Roger ripped open the bag of cheese puffs with his teeth, grabs handfuls of the salty orange squiggles, and stuffed them into his mouth.

9. From his perch high up on the rocky cliff, the eagle spots a white-tailed rabbit and swooped down toward his victim.

10. Several times a year, I like to take a day off, go away by myself, and recharged my mental batteries.

11. When the great earthquake struck San Francisco in 1906, the entire city burns to the ground in less than twenty-four hours.

1. The police __________(go) to the bank after a neighbour _________(phone) to tell them what____________(happen). They soon ___________ (discover) that the robbers ____________(escape) in a stolen car. The men _________ (kill) one of the guards who _________(try) to stop them as they _____________ (drive) away. The guard ______________ (jump) out in front of them but they just ________ (run) over him. 

1. Suddenly they _________(hear) a strange noise and _______(look) at each other in terror. All evening they ___________ (play) cards and _______ (watch) TV without thinking of the ghost.

2. After I (finish) my lunch, I continued work.

3. As soon as I got home my brother (go out).

4. The children had to stay in until the rain (stop).

5. While I (play) football, I (hurt) my leg.

6. My landlord threw me out of my flat because (not pay the rent for six months).

7. When I eventually got to the meeting, I was bad tempered and exhausted! I (sit in traffic jam for 45 minutes, a motorist bump into me, and I get completely lost)

8. By the time 5 o'clock arrived, Brenda was furious. She (wait for an hour, drink six cups of tea, and yet they not arrive).

PRESENT PERFECT vs. PAST SIMPLE

1. What ____________ (you/do) yesterday?

2. She ___________(already/visit) that famous monument.

3. It _____________ (be) very cold!

4. I _____________(not/ pay) the telephone bill yet.

5. I ___________(go) to France last year.

PRESENT PERFECT vs. PAST SIMPLE

6. In 1591 Shakespeare __________(write) Romeo and Juliet.

7. The prince of the houses in Spain _____(decrease) in recent years.

8. Your car seems to be clean now._____(you/wash) it?

9. When we were 8, our parents ________(move) to the UK.

10. Mr Goldman __________(give) a thousand pounds to the charity this year.

11. ___________(she/watch) that film last night?

Present Perfect Continuous

It is used to give emphsis on the course or duration (not the result).

I have been waiting for you for 3 hours.She has been dreaming all night long. We have been writing a letter.

all day – for six years – since 1995 – how long? the whole week

Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous

1. Dr. Jim _________(give) the same lecture for the past 7 years.

2. All day, the police ___________(stop) motorists to question them about the accident.

3. Great! The noise ___________(stop). We can start concentrating on our work again.

4. With my win yesterday, I _________(move) to the second place in the table.

5. As house prices in the city have risen, people ___________(move) into the countryside.

6. It _________(snow) all day long.

Consistency with Pronouns

When writing a paper, you should not shift your point of view unnecessarily.

Be consistent in your use of first-, second-, or third-person pronouns.

Consistency with Pronouns

A pronoun must agree with its antecedent antecedent (Noun)(Noun)A pronoun must agree with its antecedent antecedent (Noun)(Noun)

1. Sami bought an airline ticket, and now he can’t find it.

2. Airline passengers must show their photo-identification cards to the ticket agent.

3. The university has changed its recommendations for the new parking lot facility.

Incorrect: I hate to proofread my paper because proofreading is such a boring thing for you to do.

correct: I hate to proofread my paper because proofreading is such a boring thing for me to do.

Incorrect: When a person turns thirty, your perspective on life changes in many ways.

Correct: When a person turns thirty, his or her perspective on life changes in many ways.

1. Richard and (I, me) study economics.

2. (He, Him) is my teacher.

3. The students are (they, them).

4. The principal is (her, she).

5. I congratulated (her, she) and the other winners.

6. Can we really believe (him, he)?

7. Jamal gave (I, me) a lot of help on the math.

8. The test results gave (we, us) a boost in confidence.

9. The frog jumped at (we, us)!

10. It often seems that television programmers are not concerned with (its – their) viewers.

9. The frog jumped at (we, us)!

10. It often seems that television programmers are not concerned with (its – their) viewers.

11. Both Tim and Tony write to (his – their) mothers twice a week from camp.

12. Each of the girls makes (her – their) own clothes.

13. Either of the two boys will offer (his – their) help.

14. Neither Jim nor the boys have (its – their) own private rooms.

15. Citizens must protect (its – their – his) rights.

16. Every person should turn in (her – his or her) own savings account.

17. Neither the baseball players nor the managers want to lose (his – their) side of the argument.

18. Each student should turn in (his or her – their) paper on time.

19. Does everyone have (its –his) textbook?

20. Each of the freshmen women called (her – their) mother on the first day of the fall term.

21. One of the girls agreed to drive (her – their) car in the trip.

22. Mr. Perry is a captain in the Navy; (he –she–they) is also a well-known author.

23. The teacher asked for (they, their, they’re) homework. 24. (Your, You’re) grades have been outstanding.

25. I spoke to him about (his, him) driving.

26. (She, Her) acting is excellent.