The document discusses verb tenses and consistency in writing. It outlines three main verb forms - simple, perfect, and progressive tenses. For each tense, it provides examples of how they are used to indicate the timing of actions in the present, past, and future. The key rules discussed are to keep verb tense consistent unless the timing demands a change, and to only change tense for clarity between different time periods referenced.

1. Keeping Tenses
Consistent

2. The instructor explains the diagram to
students who asked questions during the
lecture.
What’s wrong with the sentence above?
The instructor explains the diagram to
students who ask questions during the
lecture.

3. Three Main Forms
There are three main verb forms for showing time or tense:
Simple Tense
Perfect Tense
Progressive Tense

4. Simple Tense
does not use auxiliary verbs (be, have, do)
refers to specific time period during which
something happens
OR
something happened and is over
OR
something will happen
Simple present (action goes on now): I sit
Simple past: (action happened and is over): I sat
Simple future (action will happen): I will sit

5. Perfect Tense
Uses have, has, or had as auxiliary verb
Allows action to continue over time
Present perfect (action happened and may still be going on): I have sat
Past perfect (action happened before something happened in the past): I had sat
Future perfect (action will be considered in the future, by which time it will have
already happened): I will have sat

6. Progressive Tense
Uses is, are, was, or were as auxiliary verb with -ing ending on main verb
Focuses on “progress” of action
Present progressive (action is in progress right now): I am sitting
Past: progressive (action was in progress in the past): I was sitting
Future progressive (action will be in progress in the future): I will be sitting

7. General Rules
Each of the discussed tenses denotes a specific time for an action or event to take place.
Do not switch from one tense to another unless the timing of an action demands that you do.
Keep verb tense consistent in sentences, paragraphs, and essays.

11. Change tense ONLY when something in the content of your essay demands that you do so for
clarity.
Note how the following example incorporates tense change as needed to clarify several time
periods.