Shift in Verb Tenses

Shifts in Verb Tenses

Verb tense consistency:​

​​- When all of the verbs in the sentence are happening at the same time, the tense should stay the same.

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- When you start writing a sentence, you choose the verb tense. As you continue writing, your verb tense should stay consistent (the same).​

Verb tense shifts:​

​​- When you start writing in one tense (past) and then switch to a different tense (future) you create a shift.

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Example:

​She is a talented athlete, but she had poor sportmanship.

(It starts in present tense but shifts to past tense.)​

Mentor sentence

Mia went to the park. She walked her dog, ate her lunch, and talks to her friend.

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What tense are the underlined verbs in?​

Poll

Now look at the last verb "talks" in the mentor sentence. Are ALL the verbs consistent (the same)?

Mia went to the park. She walked her dog, ate her lunch, and talks to her friend.

• Yes, the are the same.

• No, they are NOT the same.

​How do we correct the sentence to make it consistent?​

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Mia went to the park. She walked her dog, ate her lunch, and talks to her friend.

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Poll

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?

The clown laughs so loudly he scared the children.

• will scare

• scares

• scaring

Practice Time

Poll

On the next 5 slides, you just have to tell me if the verb tense is used correctly.

Do you understand?

• Yes

• No, I have a question.

Multiple Choice

The crowd cheered with excitement when the ball will land straight into the goal.

• Correct / Right

• Incorrect / Wrong

Multiple Choice

The doctor suggested a cast for the girl who braked her arm.

• Correct / Right

• Incorrect / Wrong

Multiple Choice

The girl laughed after her brother fell in the puddle.

• Correct / Right

• Incorrect / Wrong

Multiple Choice

I will want to watch TV but I had skipped chores.

• Correct / Right

• Incorrect / Wrong

Multiple Choice

Benny's legs ached after his daily run, so he stretched for 10 minutes.

• Correct / Right

• Incorrect / Wrong

Multiple Choice

Yesterday Nick threw up during practice because he runs too much.

• No change needed

• change RUNS to WILL RUN

• change RUNS to RAN

• change RUNS to RUNNED

Multiple Choice

Kevin caught the ball and then throws it to the catcher.

• No change needed

• change CAUGHT to WILL CATCH

• change THROWS to WILL THROW

• change THROWS to THREW

Multiple Choice

Sarah missed a week of school, so her grades dropped.

• No change needed

• change MISSED to MISSES

• change MISSED to WILL MISS

• change DROPPED to DROPS