Inappropriate Shift in Verb Tense, Voice, and Mood

Inappropriate Shift in Verb Voice and Mood

Ms. Parker/8th Grade

Shift in Verb Tense

• When you start off a sentence in one tense (past, present, future), but then you switch to another tense you have created an inappropriate shift.

• For Example: She is a talented athlete, but she had poor sportsmanship.

• This sentence begins in the present tense, but then shifts to the past tense.

Multiple Choice

Is there a shift in verb tense?

The clown laughs so loudly he scared the children.

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

How should the verb "scared" be corrected?

• will scare

• no change

• scares

• scaring

Active and Passive Voice

• Active voice means that a sentence has a subject that acts upon its verb. Example: The cashier counted the money.

• Passive voice means that a subject is a recipient of a verb's action. You may have learned that the passive voice is weak and incorrect, but when used correctly and in moderation, the passive voice is fine. Example: The money was counted by the cashier.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is written in active voice?

• The small dog barked at the mailman.

• The mailman was barked at by the small dog.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is written in passive voice?

• Andrew threw his backpack onto the floor.

• The backpack was thrown onto the floor by Andrew.

Shift in Voice

• Anytime a sentence has more than one verb and the voice of the verbs is not the same, there is a shift in voice. Shifting from active to passive voice, or vice versa, in a sentence should be avoided when possible.

• When the children turned on the TV, a buzzing sound was heard. This sentence starts in the active voice, then changes to passive.

• Both Passive: When the TV was turned on by the children, a buzzing sound was heard.

• Both Active: When the children turned on the TV, they heard a buzzing sound

Rewrite the sentences to correct the shift in voice.

• After the students ran outside for recess, the bell was heard.

• The girl broke the vase after the loud noise was heard.

• Cliff Prem wrote Soccer Success, and How Not to Break a Skateboard was also written by him.

Verb Mood

• Conditional Mood verbs will contain a main verb and a helping verb. They are usually if/then statements that show a condition being met.---After we go for a run, I would like some coffee.

• Imperative Mood verbs make a request or give a command.---You need to do your homework.

• Indicative Mood verbs state a fact.---Brandon laughs at his own jokes?

• Subjunctive Mood verbs state something that is hypothetical or wishful.---He wishes his son was better at math.

• Interrogative Mood verbs ask a question.---Are you going to the store?

Multiple Choice

What mood is the following sentence?

With a sigh, Jackson snapped his Chromebook closed.

• Indicative

• Subjunctive

• Conditional

• Imperative

• Interrogative

Multiple Choice

What mood is the following sentence?

I wish I could go to McDonalds for lunch.

• Indicative

• Subjunctive

• Conditional

• Imperative

• Interrogative

Multiple Choice

What mood is the following sentence?

If we win our game tonight, we will go to the playoffs.

• Indicative

• Subjunctive

• Conditional

• Imperative

• Interrogative

Multiple Choice

What mood is the following sentence?

Take your hat off in the building.

• Indicative

• Subjunctive

• Conditional

• Imperative

• Interrogative

Multiple Choice

What mood is the following sentence?

When will you give me back my phone

• Indicative

• Subjunctive

• Conditional

• Imperative

• Interrogative

Shift in Mood

• A shift in the verb mood occurs when more than one mood is used in one sentence. Unnecessary shifts in mood should be avoided.

• Example: Call me when you get home, and then you should start your homework. (This starts in the imperative mood, and shifts to the indicative mood.)

• To correct an unnecessary shift in mood, reword the sentence so that both verbs are in the same mood.

• Example: Call me when you get home, and then start your homework. (In this example, both verbs are changed to the imperative mood.)

Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a SHIFT in mood?

• Read the directions, and do you have any questions?

• Read the directions, and tell me if you have any questions?

Multiple Choice

Which sentence contains a SHIFT in mood?

• Go to the store and get milk, and then bring me the change.

• Go to the store and get milk, and then can you bring me the change?