Identify and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense

Key Notes:

1. What is Verb Tense?

• Verb tense shows the time of action in a sentence.
• Main types:
  • Past – She walked to school.
  • Present – She walks to school.
  • Future – She will walk to school.

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2. What is a Shift in Verb Tense?

• A tense shift happens when a writer changes tense unnecessarily in a sentence or paragraph.
• This can confuse readers.

Example of incorrect shift:
✘ She was eating lunch and talks to her friend.
✔ She was eating lunch and talked to her friend. (both past tense)

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3. When Are Tense Shifts Appropriate?

• When showing a change in time clearly.
• Example:
  ✔ He studied for hours, and now he feels confident.

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4. When Are Tense Shifts Inappropriate?

• When there is no reason to change the tense.
• Incorrect Example:
  ✘ Yesterday, she plays the piano and enjoyed it.
  ✔ Yesterday, she played the piano and enjoyed it.

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5. Tips to Identify Inappropriate Shifts

• Look at time clues (yesterday, now, tomorrow).
• Check if actions are happening in the same timeframe.
• Watch for unintentional changes between past, present, and future tenses.

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6. How to Correct Inappropriate Tense Shifts

• Make sure all verbs match the same tense unless a time change is needed.
• Keep narration in the same tense (especially in essays or stories).

Incorrect: He runs into the room, grabbed his coat, and leaves.
Correct: He ran into the room, grabbed his coat, and left.

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7. Practice Example

Fix this sentence:
✘ She is walking through the forest and saw a deer.
✔ She was walking through the forest and saw a deer.