The document provides guidance on maintaining consistent verb tense when writing. It advises that if an event is written about in the past tense, all verbs describing that event should be in the past tense. The same applies for present and future tense. It highlights examples of inconsistent verb tense that can confuse readers and provides corrected versions with consistent tense. Exceptions when switching tense is acceptable, such as when referring to habits, opinions, or using words like "but" or "however", are also discussed.

1. Prof. Pinney’s
Guide to Better
Writing
Part V: Tense Consistency

2. • The word of today’s lesson is:
Consistency
• Staying the same
• or 일관성
The word to remember

3. • Consistency is Key
• If you are writing about an event in the past - always use
the past tense.
• The same applies for present and future. Unnecessary
shifts in tense can cause confusion for the reader.
• If you are unsure about which tense to use, simply refer
to the last verb you wrote.
The Rule

4. Present tense
Past tense
• He points the gun and heard another shot.
• The verb “points” indicated the action is taking place in
the present, yet the verb “heard” indicated past tense.
Inconsistent

5. Past tense
Past tense
• He pointed the gun and heard another shot.
• Inconsistency is easy to catch in simple sentences, but as
you write more complex sentences or
paragraphs, thorough editing is required.
Consistent

6. • During the movie, Sam stood up and drops his popcorn.
…poor Sam

7. • During the movie, Sam stood up and drops his popcorn.
Past tense
…poor Sam

8. • During the movie, Sam stood up and drops his popcorn.
Past tense
…poor Sam
Present tense

9. • During the movie, Sam stood up and dropped his
popcorn.
nd verb in past…
2

10. • During the movie, Sam stands up and drops his popcorn.
st verb in present
…or the 1

11. • When Mary walks into a room, everyone will stare.
Poor Mary

12. • When Mary walks into a room, everyone will stare.
Present tense
Poor Mary

13. • When Mary walks into a room, everyone will stare.
Present tense
Poor Mary
Future tense

14. • When Mary walks into a room, everyone stares.
Staring at Mary

15. • Change the second verb in each sentence to match the
first verb.
• Mike had driven quickly, so we ___ (arrive) on time.
• I checked my answering machine, but I ___ (hear) no
messages.
• Troy sharpens his pencils while I ___ (pass) out the test.
• When Brian woke up, he ___ (go) straight to the shower.
Check for consistency

16. • Change the second verb in each sentence to match the
first verb.
• Mike had driven quickly, so we arrived on time.
• I checked my answering machine, but I ___ (hear) no
messages.
• Troy sharpens his pencils while I ___ (pass) out the test.
• When Brian woke up, he ___ (go) straight to the shower.
Check for consistency

17. • Change the second verb in each sentence to match the
first verb.
• Mike had driven quickly, so we arrived on time.
• I checked my answering machine, but I heard no
messages.
• Troy sharpens his pencils while I ___ (pass) out the test.
• When Brian woke up, he ___ (go) straight to the shower.
Check for consistency

18. • Change the second verb in each sentence to match the
first verb.
• Mike had driven quickly, so we arrived on time.
• I checked my answering machine, but I heard no
messages.
• Troy sharpens his pencils while I pass out the test.
• When Brian wakes up, he ___ (go) straight to the shower.
Check for consistency

19. • Change the second verb in each sentence to match the
first verb.
• Mike had driven quickly, so we arrived on time.
• I checked my answering machine, but I heard no
messages.
• Troy sharpens his pencils while I pass out the test.
• When Brian wakes up, he goes straight to the shower.
Check for consistency

20. • Just as Brandi speaks, the microphone ___ (turn) on.
• I preferred sugar-free gum, but my cousin ___ (like) rock
candy.
• I never studied in elementary school, but I ___ (study)
hard now.
• Last night, I did not sleep well and now I ___ (be
suffering) the consequences.
Check again!

21. • Just as Brandi speaks, the microphone turns on.
• I preferred sugar-free gum, but my cousin ___ (like) rock
candy.
• I never studied in elementary school, but I ___ (study)
hard now.
• Last night, I did not sleep well and now I ___ (be
suffering) the consequences.
Check again!

22. • Just as Brandi speaks, the microphone turns on.
• I preferred sugar-free gum, but my cousin liked rock
candy.
• I never studied in elementary school, but I ___ (study)
hard now.
• Last night, I did not sleep well and now I ___ (be
suffering) the consequences.
Check again!

23. • Just as Brandi speaks, the microphone turns on.
• I preferred sugar-free gum, but my cousin liked rock
candy.
• I never studied in elementary school, but I study hard
now.
• Last night, I did not sleep well and now I ___ (be
suffering) the consequences.
Check again!

24. • Just as Brandi speaks, the microphone turns on.
• I preferred sugar-free gum, but my cousin liked rock
candy.
• I never studied in elementary school, but I study hard
now.
• Last night, I did not sleep well and now I ___ (be
suffering) the consequences.
Check again!

25. • Just as Brandi speaks, the microphone turns on.
• I preferred sugar-free gum, but my cousin liked rock
candy.
• I never studied in elementary school, but I study hard
now.
• Last night, I did not sleep well and now I am suffering the
consequences.
Check again!

26. • As with all rules, there are exceptions. Sometimes it is
appropriate to switch tenses, but there should be a word
or phrase to explain the switch as in this sentence where
the reader can understand that the first part of the
sentence is about something in the past—it happened
yesterday, but the second part of the sentence is about the
present—what is going on right now.:
Yesterday I left my jacket in my locker, but now I am
freezing on my way to school.
…but now I’m freezing!
Past tense
Present tense

27. • It was cold yesterday, but now it is warm.
• I played soccer in high school, now I play hockey.
• Habits, something you do everyday
• I went shopping last weekend because I work during the
week.
• Opinions you still have
• I ate chocolate ice cream but vanilla is my favorite.
Exceptions

28. • It was cold yesterday, but now it is warm.
• I played soccer in high school, now I play hockey.
• Habits, something you do everyday
• I went shopping last weekend because I work during the
week.
• Opinions you still have
• I ate chocolate ice cream but vanilla is my favorite.
Exceptions

29. • It was cold yesterday, but now it is warm.
• I played soccer in high school, now I play hockey.
• Habits, something you do everyday
• I went shopping last weekend because I work during the
week.
• Opinions you still have
• I ate chocolate ice cream but vanilla is my favorite.
Exceptions

30. • It was cold yesterday, but now it is warm.
• I played soccer in high school, now I play hockey.
• Habits, something you do everyday
• I went shopping last weekend because I work during the
week.
• Opinions you still have
• I ate chocolate ice cream but vanilla is my favorite.
Exceptions

31. • It was cold yesterday, but now it is warm.
• I played soccer in high school, now I play hockey.
• Habits, something you do everyday
• I went shopping last weekend because I work during the
week.
• Opinions you still have
• I ate chocolate ice cream but vanilla is my favorite.
Exceptions

32. • It was cold yesterday, but now it is warm.
• I played soccer in high school, now I play hockey.
• Habits, something you do everyday
• I went shopping last weekend because I work during the
week.
• Opinions you still have
• I ate chocolate ice cream but vanilla is my favorite.
Exceptions

33. • It was cold yesterday, but now it is warm.
• I played soccer in high school, now I play hockey.
• Habits, something you do everyday
• I went shopping last weekend because I work during the
week.
• Opinions you still have
• I ate chocolate ice cream but vanilla is my favorite.
Exceptions

34. • It was cold yesterday, but now it is warm.
• I played soccer in high school, now I play hockey.
• Habits, something you do everyday
• I went shopping last weekend because I worked during the
week. <- you don’t work during the week anymore.
• Opinions you still have
• I ate chocolate ice cream but vanilla is my favorite.
Exceptions

35. • It was cold yesterday, but now it is warm.
• I played soccer in high school, now I play hockey.
• Habits, something you do everyday
• I went shopping last weekend because I work during the
week.
• Opinions you still have
• I ate chocolate ice cream but vanilla was my favorite.
-Vanilla was your favorite then, but not anymore
Exceptions

36. • Look for:
• but, however, so
•Time words
•now, today, yesterday, tomorrow, last night, Monday, at 8:00
•after, before…
• While, just as… = same time-frame
Exceptional Words

37. • When Mary gets here, everyone will stare.
Will happen in the future
Future Mary
Future tense

38. • Harry reaches for the sandwich after he already ate two
pieces of pizza.
Present tense
Harry the Pig
Past tense

39. • 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.
To pig or not to pig…

40. • Read the following paragraph, which contains several
inconsistent sentences. Pay special attention to the
boldfaced verbs:
• I used to think I wanted 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.
To pig or not to pig…

41. • Read the following paragraph, which contains several
inconsistent sentences. Pay special attention to the
boldfaced verbs:
• 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 love it. I have decided a horse is the perfect pet and
felt confident this is the right decision.
To pig or not to pig…

42. • Read the following paragraph, which contains several
inconsistent sentences. Pay special attention to the
boldfaced verbs:
• 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 felt confident this is the right decision.
To pig or not to pig…

43. • Read the following paragraph, which contains several
inconsistent sentences. Pay special attention to the
boldfaced verbs:
• 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.
Not to pig, to horse!

44. • 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.
Stay Consistent!

45. • Now on the back page, write a letter to a friend.
• Discuss a past event.
• Last summer
• Last night
• Last weekend…
• What happened to you in the past? What did you do?
Where did you go? How did you feel? Etc.
• Be consistent!
Use It

46. • Write a gratitude letter: see page 71
• Write an essay:
• How they helped you.
• What you have done because of their help.
• Your future plans.
• 3 paragraphs…
Homework