Verb-Tense
Consistency
Refresher: Verb Tenses
Verb tense refers to the form that a
verb takes
to represent time. The three primary
verb
tenses are past, present, and future.
Past, present, and future are the most
important tense distinctions.
Verb Tense Chart
Past Present Future
Simple I reviewed for the I review for the Midterm I will review for the
Midterm Exam Exam Midterm Exam
Progressive I was reviewing for the I am reviewing for the I will be reviewing for the
Midterm Exam Midterm Exam Midterm Exam
Perfect I had reviewed for the I have reviewed for the I will have reviewed for
Midterm Exam Midterm Exam the Midterm Exam
Perfect Progressive I had been reviewing for I have been reviewing for I will have been reviewing
the Midterm Exam the Midterm Exam for the Midterm Exam.
The progressive tense is also referred to as continuous. The
future tense is also cued with words like going to and about to.
What is Tense
Consistency?
Verb tense consistency refers to
keeping the same tense throughout a
clause, sentence , or a paragraph. We
don’t want to have one time period
being described in two different tenses.
If you have two or more time periods,
start a new clause or a new sentence.
Tense consistency sets the timeline
of your writing.
Tense consistency makes your
writing flow more logically.
Tense consistency adds clarity to
your writing.
Tense In-consistency
Examples
The best way to demonstrate the importance of tense consistency is to show tense in-
consistency. These examples go over inconsistencies, including the effect they have
on a sentence and the best ways to fix them.
Inconsistency: She grabbed the stapler and throws it at the cockroach on the wall.
Correction: She grabs the stapler and throws it at the cockroach on the wall.
Correction: She grabbed the stapler and threw it at the cockroach on the wall.
Inconsistency: If they had known that you were in town, they would reserve an extra seat
at the restaurant for you.
Correction: If they had known that you were in town, they would have reserved an extra seat at
the restaurant for you.
Inconsistency: Mark finished his essay, tidies his room, and went out for supper.
Correction: Mark finished his essay, tidied his room, and went out for supper.
Correction: Mark finishes his essay, tidies his room, and goes out for supper.
Inconsistency: The winds along the coast blow the trees over when the weather got
bad.
Correction: The winds along the coast blow the trees over when the weather gets bad.
Correction: The winds along the coast blew the trees over when the weather got bad.
Inconsistency: As soon as I get out of bed, I did fifty pushups.
Correction: As soon as I get out, I do fifty pushups.
Correction: As soon as I got out, I did fifty pushups.
Redundancy
and
Wordiness
In writing, redundancy means
conveying the same meaning twice. Like
other kinds of wordiness, redundancy
makes writing seem cluttered.
Sometimes people use redundant
expressions because they don't know the
precise definition of a word.
Examples of redundant expressions
Advance planning Advance forward final outcome
Free gift Return back ancient history
Consensus of opinion Lower down future plans
Future ahead Cooperate together terrible tragedy
True fact Join together reflect back
Currently at this time Raise up Am in the morning
New innovation first and foremost Overexaggerate
Unexpected surprise each and every Past history
End result any and all
Exact same hopes and desires
Yearly annual always and forever
Vast majority sad lament
Examples of wordy expressions
Wordy version Simpler version
subsequent to after
in the event that is
in my own personal opinion I believe…
due to the fact that because
it would be advisable to you should
in close proximity to near
in view of the fact that because
at that point in time then
has the ability to can
with reference to the fact concerning
that
Wordy version Simpler version
After the conclusion of after
all of all
at the present moment now
for the purpose of to
he is a man who is he is
in a place where where
with the exception of except
a large number of many
within the realm of possibility possible
in some cases sometimes
Avoid redundancy and wordiness by taking out unnecessary words or phrases
or by taking out any words or phrases that repeat themselves.
Examples:
REDUNDANT: Joe is going to fix the broken heater which is not working.
CORRECT: Joe is going to fix the broken heater.
REDUNDANT: The lions lost six consecutive games in a row.
CORRECT: The lions lost six consecutive games.
REDUNDANT: The CICS students are going to make an advance planning for
the college day.
CORRECT: The CICS students are going to plan for the college day.
WORDY: In spite of him being the youngest one in the kindergarten
class, he was the tallest.
CORRECT: Although he was the youngest one in the kindergarten class,
he was the tallest.
WORDY: After the conclusion of the concert, we left.
CORRECT: After the concert we left.
WORDY: Owing to the fact that he was here, we stayed.
CORRECT: Because he was here, we stayed.
