PEL101- COMMUNICATION

SKILLS-I
LECTURE-21
WEEK-11
DESIGNED BY ANUDEEP
ID-13654
 Consistency of verb tense
 Consistency of verb tense means that all actions in a
sentence that happen (or happened) at the same
time are in the same tense.

 Shifting from one tense to another without a good

reason is not only incorrect but is confusing and
distracting as well.
 EXAMPLE
• Example of Inconsistent Tense:
We were seven miles from shore. Suddenly the sky turns dark.

In the first sentence, the writer uses the past tense (with the verb were),
but then shifts to present tense (with the verb turns) in the second
sentence.

The tenses are inconsistent because both actions happen at the same time
–in the past.
To correct the inconsistency, make both verbs the same tense:

We were seven miles from shore. Suddenly the sky turned dark.
 Consistency of verb tense
 If all of the actions happen in the present or happen all the time, use
the present tense for all verbs in the sentence.

Example- A wide seat makes the rider shift from side to side and it causes
painful rubbing

 If all of the actions happened in the past, use the past tense for all verbs.

Example- I went to my room and I cried because I started thinking about sad
moments.
 Consistency of verb tense
 Inconsistent: The movie started just as we take our seats.
(The actions both happened at the same time, but started is in the past
tense, and take is in the present tense.)

 Consistent, present tense: The movie starts just as we take our seats.
(The actions and verb tenses are both in the present.)

 Consistent, past tense: The movie started just as we took our seats.
(The actions started and took both happened in the past, and both are in
the past tense.)
 EXERCISE
 Identify the verbs. Decide if there unnecessary shifts in tense.
1. Those who want a good workout needed different kinds of equipment than those interested in an easy
ride.
2 . Serious riders wore special shoes that snap onto the pedals to allow pushing up as well as pushing down.
3. Once an experienced cyclist chose the proper bicycle, he or she knows how to ride it properly.
4. The smart rider also kept his or her knees slightly bent, which eases the strain on the knees.
5. My arm is hurting when I went in to see the doctor.
6. I love to play the piano as a young girl, and continue to play as an adult.
7. I would not have taken the first exit if I know the second exit brought me closer to my destination.
8. The professor was considering retirement until he find out he could not afford it.
9. She became a mother when she will have been twenty-five years old.
10. Her mother told her to clean her room, when she is walking out of the house
 ANSWERS
 Identify the verbs. Decide if there unnecessary shifts in tense.
1Those who want a good workout need different kinds of equipment than those
interested in an easy ride.
2. Serious riders wear special shoes that snap onto the pedals to allow pushing up as
well as pushing down.
3 . Once an experienced cyclist chooses the proper bicycle, he or she knows how to
ride it properly.
4. The smart rider also keeps his or her knees slightly bent, which eases the strain on
the knees.
5. My arm was hurting when I went in to see the doctor.
6. I loved to play the piano as a young girl, and continue to play as an adult.
7. I would not have taken the first exit if I had known the second exit brought me closer
to my destination.
8. The professor was considering retirement until he found out he could not afford it.
9. She became a mother when she was twenty-five years old.
10. Her mother told her to clean her room, when she was walking out of the house.
 Consistency of verb tense
• Good writing is consistent. It is important that each sentence or paragraph stay
consistent. The most common mistake is switching verb tense .

Read the following paragraph, which contains several inconsistent sentences. Pay special
attention to the boldfaced verbs:

I used to think I want to own a pig. After visiting a farm last summer, I realize
that pigs were not for me. I decided to look at other options for pets. I
visited a stable and I love it. I have decided a horse is the perfect pet and felt confident
this is the right decision.
 ANSWER

 I used to think I wanted to own a pig. After visiting a farm last

summer, I realized that pigs were not for me. I decided to look at other
options for pets. I visited a stable and I loved it. I have decided a horse is
the perfect pet and feel confident this is the right decision.
 Stay Consistent!
 If you suspect tense inconsistency in your own writing, or the writing of
others.
1) THINK about what "tense" or "time" the overall sentence is in - past, present
or future.

2) LOCATE verbs (action words) in the sentence, and see what tense they are in.

3) RE-READ the sentence, to make sure you understand what it is saying.

4) RE-EXAMINE the verbs in the sentence, to make sure they are in a consistent
tense .
 Tense consistency exercise
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form.
1. If the company followed the quality guidelines, they ……………………… not
land in trouble.
a) Would b) will
2. The telephone ……………………. while I was having a bath.
a) Rings b) rang
3. Since its conception in the early 1970s, the internet ………………………. in
popularity.
a) Grew b) has grown
4. If she had acted more responsibly, everything …………………………… all
right.
a) would be b) would have been
5. Thousands of people ………………………… see the art exhibition before it
closes on Friday.
a) Will b) would have
 Tense consistency exercise
Complete the following sentences using an appropriate verb form.
6. Captain James Cook ………………………. by Hawaiian islanders in 1779 while
he was on a visit to Alaska.
a) Killed b) was killed
7. I was terribly disappointed with my marks because I ………………………
really hard.
a) Worked b) had worked
8.The teacher started asking questions as soon as she ………………………… the
lessons.
a) Finished b) finishes
9. Everyone ……………………… that she would return safely.
a) Hopes b) hoped
10. The boy confessed that he ………………………. the money.
a) has taken b) had taken
 ANSWERS
1. If the company followed the quality guidelines, they would not land in
trouble.
2. The telephone rang while I was having a bath.
3. Since its conception in the 1970s the internet has grown in popularity.
4. If she had acted more responsibly everything would have been all right.
5. Thousands of people will see the art exhibition before it closes on Friday.
6. Captain James Cook was killed by Hawaiian islanders in 1779 while he was
on a visit to Alaska.
7. I was terribly disappointed with my marks because I had worked really
hard.
8. The teacher started asking questions as soon as she finished the lessons.
9. Everyone hoped that she would return safely.
10. The boy confessed that he had taken the money.