Verb Tense Shifts
Verb Tense
Verb tense lets your reader know when an
action occurred.
Maintain the same verb tense to avoid
confusing your reader.
Verb Tense Shifts
A verb tense shift occurs when you change
verb tense in the same sentence or in
following sentences.
Not all verb tense shifts are incorrect,
but you should always have a reason for
shifting verb tense.
Verb Tense Shifts
Verb tense shifts are referred to as logical or
illogical.
A logical verb tense shift is one in which you
intend to represent two different periods of time:
I detested math when I was in high school; I enjoy
it now that I am in college.
Here, past tense verbs refer to a time in the past
and present tense verbs refer to the present.
Different verb tenses are necessary in order to
demonstrate that the writer’s feelings about math
were different at two different times.
Verb Tense Shifts
An illogical verb tense shift is one in
which you change verbs for no apparent
reason:
I highlighted important information when I
study for tests.
The writer starts this sentence with a
past tense verb, which leads the reader to
expect another past tense verb. The shift
to a present tense verb is confusing. Did
this happen in the past, or is it
happening in the present?
Compound Sentences
Unless you are discussing two different
periods of time, you should use the same
verb tense when you join two sentences
with a semicolon or conjunction.
Correct: I detested math when I was in
high school, but I enjoy it now that I am
in college.
Incorrect: I enjoy math, but it was not my
favorite subject.
Correct: I enjoy math, but it is not my
favorite subject.
Adjacent Sentences
Unless you are discussing two different
periods of time, sentences should have the
same verb tense when you have two
sentences next to each other.
Correct: I detested math when I was in
high school. I enjoy it now that I am in
college.
Incorrect: I enjoy math. It was my
favorite subject.
Correct: I enjoy math. It is my favorite
subject.
Complex Sentences
Unless you are discussing two different
periods of time, an independent clause
(subject and verb that can stand alone)
should have the same verb as a dependent
clause (subject and verb that cannot stand
alone) in the same sentence.
Correct: Although I detested math when I
was in high school, I enjoy it now that I
am in college.
Incorrect: When I study for tests, I
highlighted what I thought was important.
Correct: When I study for tests, I
highlight what I think is important.
It’s Your Turn!
Decide if the verbs need to be changed in
the following sentence.
I worked on my essay yesterday, so today I
will work on my labs.
It’s Your Turn!
I worked on my essay yesterday, so today I
will work on my labs.
It’s Your Turn!
Decide if the verbs need to be changed in
the following sentence.
I like afternoon classes, but I did not
like morning classes.
It’s Your Turn!
I like afternoon classes, but I do not
like morning classes.
It’s Your Turn!
Decide if the verbs need to be changed in
the following sentence.
I liked living in the dorm my freshman
year. However, now that I am a junior, I
want an apartment.
It’s Your Turn!
I liked living in the dorm my freshman
year. However, now that I am a junior, I
want an apartment.
It’s Your Turn!
Decide if the verbs in the following
sentences need to be changed.
I prefer to attend tutoring on Tuesdays
and Thursdays. My schedule was less hectic
on those days.
It’s Your Turn!
I prefer to attend tutoring on Tuesdays
and Thursdays. My schedule is less hectic
on those days.
It’s Your Turn!
Decide if the verbs in the following
sentence need to be changed.
Because my major is nursing, I plan to
volunteer at a nursing home.
It’s Your Turn!
Because my major is nursing, I plan to
volunteer at a nursing home.
Don’t forget: print the handout that goes
with this presentation!
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For more information about verb tense
shifts or for help with other writing
concerns, come to TSU’s Writing Center.
Visit room 300 in the Learning Resources
Center or call 615.963.5102 to make an
appointment.