Recognizing Shifts in Sentences
Check the following sentences for confusing shifts in tense. If the tense of each underlined verb expresses the time relationship accurately, write S (satisfactory). If a shift in tense is not appropriate, write U (unsatisfactory) and make necessary changes. In most cases with an inappropriate shift, there is more than one way to correct the inconsistency. Reading the sentences aloud will help you recognize differences in time.
___ 1. If the club limited its membership, it will have to raise its dues.
___ 2. As Barbara puts in her contact lenses, the telephone rang.
___ 3. Thousands of people will see the art exhibit by the time it closes.
___ 4. By the time negotiations began, many pessimists have expressed doubt about them.
___ 5. After Capt. James Cook visited Alaska on his third voyage, he is killed by Hawaiian islanders in 1779.
___ 6. I was terribly disappointed with my grade because I studied very hard.
___ 7. The moderator asks for questions as soon as the speaker has finished.
___ 8. Everyone hopes the plan would work.
___ 9. Harry wants to show his friends the photos he took last summer.
___ 10. Scientists predict that the sun will die in the distant future.
___ 11. The boy insisted that he has paid for the candy bars.
___ 12. The doctor suggested bed rest for the patient, who suffers from a bad cold.
Answer: Tense Consistency Exercise 1
In most cases with an inappropriate shift below, there is more than one way to correct the inconsistency. Each suggested change is probably not the only correct one for the sentence.
Correct responses are in bold, and incorrect responses are in italics.
_U_ 1. If the club limited its membership, it will have to raise its dues. (change will to would)
_U_ 2. As Barbara puts in her contact lenses, the telephone rang. (change puts to put) OR As Barbara puts in her contact lenses, the telephone rings. (change rang to rings to illustrate ongoing action)
_S_ 3. Thousands of people will see the art exhibit by the time it closes.
_U_ 4. By the time negotiations began, many pessimists have expressed doubt about them. (change have to had)
_U_ 5. After Capt. James Cook visited Alaska on his third voyage, he is killed by Hawaiian islanders in 1779. (change is to was)
_U_ 6. I was terribly disappointed with my grade because I studied very hard. (change studied to had studied)
_S_ 7. The moderator asks for questions as soon as the speaker has finished. (asks as habitual action; will ask is also possible)
_U_ 8. Everyone hopes the plan would work. (change hopes to hoped)
_S_ 9. Harry wants to show his friends the photos he took last summer.
_S_ 10. Scientists predict that the sun will die in the distant future.
_U_ 11. The boy insisted that he has paid for the candy bars. (change has to had)
_U_ 12. The doctor suggested bed rest for the patient, who suffers from a bad cold. (change suffers to was suffering)
