Prof. Pinney’s Guide to Better WritingPart V: Tense Consistency

The word to remember

• The word of today’s lesson is:

Consistency• Staying the same• or 일관성

The Rule

• 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. 

Inconsistent

• 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.

Past tensePresent tense

Consistent

• 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.

Past tense Past tense

…poor Sam

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

…poor Sam

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

Past tense

…poor Sam

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

Past tense Present tense

2nd verb in past…

• During the movie, Sam stood up and dropped his popcorn.

…or the 1st verb in present

• During the movie, Sam stands up and drops his popcorn.

Poor Mary

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

Poor Mary

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

Present tense

Poor Mary

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

Present tense Future tense

Staring at Mary

• When Mary walks into a room, everyone stares.

Check for consistency

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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 again!

• 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!

• 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!

• 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!

• 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!

• 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!

• 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.

…but now I’m freezing!

• 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.

Past tense Present tense

Exceptions

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Exceptional Words

• 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

Future Mary

• When Mary gets here, everyone will stare.

Will happen in the future Future tense

Harry the Pig

• Harry reaches for the sandwich after he already ate two pieces of pizza.

Past tensePresent tense

To pig or not to pig…

• 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…

• 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…

• 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…

• 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.

Not to pig, to horse!

• 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.

Stay Consistent!

• 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.

Use It

• 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!

Homework

• 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…