4. A tense shift item on an
objective test might look
like this ...
5. Sample Item
When King was a puppy, he chewed toys
and furniture. Now that he is an adult, he
wanted to chew the mail carrier most of all.
A. is
B. was
C. wants
D. No change is necessary.
When King was a puppy, he chewed toys
A
and furniture. Now that he is an adult, he
B
wanted to chew the mail carrier most of all.
C
A. is
B. was
C. wants
D. No change is necessary.
When King was a puppy, he chewed toys
A
and furniture. Now that he is an adult, he
B
wants to chew the mail carrier most of all.
C
A. is
B. was
C. wants
D. No change is necessary.
Is was, is, or
wanted in the
wrong tense?
Wanted should
be present
tense, a
correction option
C makes.
6. Use present/present perfect
tense to indicate
current/regular action.
Jeffrey goes to the gym six days a week where he
has gained not only muscle but also discipline.
Present tense: verb + s = singular; verb + Ø =
plural.
Present perfect tense: has or have + past
participle
I have gained
attention from
women too!
7. Jeffrey had lifted free weights for over an hour
before someone mentioned the rip in his
shorts.
Use past perfect to indicate a
past action that occurred
before another past action.
It’s a good
thing I have
cute
glutes.
Past tense: regular = verb + ed; irregular forms
vary.
Past perfect tense: had + past participle
8. Jeffrey was showing off when he tore a muscle
in his shoulder.
Use progressive tenses to
indicate an ongoing action
that occurs as another action
happens.
Progressive tenses: form of be + verb + ing
Ouch!
9. When logic per mits, you can mix
past/present tenses with future.
Because he went to the gym today, Jeffrey will
reward himself with a triple bacon cheeseburger for
lunch. After he weighs himself tomorrow, he will
regret the poor food choice.
Because I ate
badly, I will have
to do more crunches
at the gym.
10. Could/would = past tense of
can/will.
Jeffrey thought he will have enough energy for his
workout, but skipping breakfast meant that he cannot
complete his training.
You would
have had the
same
problem!
Jeffrey thought he will have enough energy for his
workout, but skipping breakfast meant that he cannot
complete his training.
Jeffrey thought he would have enough energy for his
workout, but skipping breakfast meant that he could not
complete his training.
11. Quick Test
Directions: In the items that follow, choose
the option that corrects an error in the
underlined portion(s). If no error exists, choose
“No change is necessary.”
You think you’re
tough? Show
me your tense
strength.
12. Item 1
Aunt Lillian had frozen four quarts of her
homegrown strawberries, but she lost them after
the hurricane was knocking out power for eight
days.
A. froze
B. had lost
C. knocked
D. No change is necessary.
Aunt Lillian had frozen four quarts of her
A
homegrown strawberries, but she lost them after
B
the hurricane was knocking out power for eight
C
days.
A. froze
B. had lost
C. knocked
D. No change is necessary.
Aunt Lillian had frozen four quarts of her
A
homegrown strawberries, but she lost them after
B
the hurricane knocked out power for eight
C
days.
A. froze
B. had lost
C. knocked
D. No change is necessary.
13. Item 2
Because Sammy had been eating all of the
chocolate mint ice cream before she got home,
Roxanne whacked him over the head.
A. ate
B. was eating
C. had eaten
D. No change is necessary.
Because Sammy had been eating all of the
chocolate mint ice cream before she got home,
Roxanne whacked him over the head.
A. ate
B. was eating
C. had eaten
D. No change is necessary.
Because Sammy had been eating all of the
chocolate mint ice cream before she got home,
Roxanne whacked him over the head.
A. ate
B. was eating
C. had eaten
D. No change is necessary.
14. Item 3
Carlos pawed at his hair and shook his head, but
he cannot dislodge the giant spider tangled in
his curls.
A. was pawing
B. was shaking
C. could not
D. No change is necessary.
Carlos pawed at his hair and shook his head, but
A B
he cannot dislodge the giant spider tangled in
C
his curls.
A. was pawing
B. was shaking
C. could not
D. No change is necessary.
Carlos pawed at his hair and shook his head, but
A B
he could not dislodge the giant spider tangled in
C
his curls.
A. was pawing
B. was shaking
C. could not
D. No change is necessary.
15. Item 4
Grandpa planted a backyard garden, hoping that it
was helping with the high cost of food.
A. will help
B. would help
C. helped
D. No change is necessary.
Grandpa planted a backyard garden, hoping that it
was helping with the high cost of food.
A. will help
B. would help
C. helped
D. No change is necessary.
Grandpa planted a backyard garden, hoping that it
was helping with the high cost of food.
A. will help
B. would help
C. helped
D. No change is necessary.
16. Item 5
When Gretchen was a freshman, she wanted to
major in biology, but after her first rat dissection,
she couldn’t change her major fast enough.
A. had been
B. was wanting
C. cannot
D. No change is necessary.
When Gretchen was a freshman, she wanted to
A B
major in biology, but after her first rat dissection,
she couldn’t change her major fast enough.
C
A. had been
B. was wanting
C. cannot
D. No change is necessary.
When Gretchen was a freshman, she wanted to
A B
major in biology, but after her first rat dissection,
she couldn’t change her major fast enough.
C
A. had been
B. was wanting
C. cannot
D. No change is necessary.
17. Item 6
Everyone is sleeping soundly when Brendan
dropped the glass pitcher of lemonade on the stone
tiles of the kitchen floor.
A. had been sleeping
B. slept
C. would sleep
D. No change is necessary.
Everyone is sleeping soundly when Brendan
dropped the glass pitcher of lemonade on the stone
tiles of the kitchen floor.
A. had been sleeping
B. slept
C. would sleep
D. No change is necessary.
Everyone is sleeping soundly when Brendan
dropped the glass pitcher of lemonade on the stone
tiles of the kitchen floor.
A. had been sleeping
B. slept
C. would sleep
D. No change is necessary.
18. Item 7
Ancient Egyptians spent their entire lives preparing
for their death and burial. Today, however, people
are thinking that such arrangements are morbid
and impolite to discuss.
A. were spending
B. think
C. would be
D. No change is necessary.
Ancient Egyptians spent their entire lives preparing
A
for their death and burial. Today, however, people
are thinking that such arrangements are morbid
B C
and impolite to discuss.
A. were spending
B. think
C. would be
D. No change is necessary.
Ancient Egyptians spent their entire lives preparing
A
for their death and burial. Today, however, people
think that such arrangements are morbid
B C
and impolite to discuss.
A. were spending
B. think
C. would be
D. No change is necessary.
19. Item 8
When Felicia saw the turtle trying to cross the busy
road, she leaped out of her car and had carried
the reptile to safety at the other side.
A. was carrying
B. carried
C. will carry
D. No change is necessary.
When Felicia saw the turtle trying to cross the busy
road, she leaped out of her car and had carried
the reptile to safety at the other side.
A. was carrying
B. carried
C. will carry
D. No change is necessary.
When Felicia saw the turtle trying to cross the busy
road, she leaped out of her car and had carried
the reptile to safety at the other side.
A. was carrying
B. carried
C. will carry
D. No change is necessary.
20. Item 9
George Washington believed that he was invincible
in battle. He rode a conspicuous white horse that
made him an easy target, yet no bullet had hit him,
validating his conviction of invulnerability.
A. had believed
B. was riding
C. hit
D. No change is necessary.
George Washington believed that he was invincible
A
in battle. He rode a conspicuous white horse that
B
made him an easy target, yet no bullet had hit him,
C
validating his conviction of invulnerability.
A. had believed
B. was riding
C. hit
D. No change is necessary.
George Washington believed that he was invincible
A
in battle. He rode a conspicuous white horse that
B
made him an easy target, yet no bullet hit him,
C
validating his conviction of invulnerability.
A. had believed
B. was riding
C. hit
D. No change is necessary.
21. Item 10
We would have bite marks on our ankles and
scratches on our thighs ever since adopting
Nelson, our feisty kitten.
A. had
B. have
C. will have
D. No change is necessary.
We would have bite marks on our ankles and
scratches on our thighs ever since adopting
Nelson, our feisty kitten.
A. had
B. have
C. will have
D. No change is necessary.
We would have bite marks on our ankles and
scratches on our thighs ever since adopting
Nelson, our feisty kitten.
A. had
B. have
C. will have
D. No change is necessary.
