There are times when it is appropriate to write in past tense, and other times when it is appropriate to write in present tense. Verb tense can have an impact on your purpose and your coherence, so it is important that you make the best decision and commit to one consistent verb tense. Many writers move back and forth needlessly, which causes unnecessary confusion. Consider the following example:
Example: Before we knew it, Mom rushes us outside to the car, which was icy. She is furious
and glared at the three of us.
This passage is awkward because the verbs in this passage frequently shift between past and present tense. In sentence 1, “knew” is a past tense verb, but “rushes” is in the present tense. Moving forward, “was” is a past tense verb, but immediately in the next sentence, “is” signals a shift to the present tense. The final verb in the passage is “glared”—yet another shift back to past tense.
Here is this same passage revised to consistently utilize the past tense:
Solution 1: Before we knew it, Mom rushed us outside to the car, which was icy. She was
furious and glared at the three of us.
It is also possible to write this passage entirely in present tense:
Solution 2: Before we know it, Mom rushes us outside to the car, which is icy. She is furious
and glares at the three of us.
In both solutions, all verbs have been double-checked in order to create consistency and clarity. Always be sure that you are proofreading carefully in order to avoid making this easily fixable mistake.
Copyright © by Lucas Pingel, usage permitted at St. Catherine University
Example: Before we knew it, Mom rushes us outside to the car, which was icy. She is furious
and glared at the three of us.
This passage is awkward because the verbs in this passage frequently shift between past and present tense. In sentence 1, “knew” is a past tense verb, but “rushes” is in the present tense. Moving forward, “was” is a past tense verb, but immediately in the next sentence, “is” signals a shift to the present tense. The final verb in the passage is “glared”—yet another shift back to past tense.
Here is this same passage revised to consistently utilize the past tense:
Solution 1: Before we knew it, Mom rushed us outside to the car, which was icy. She was
furious and glared at the three of us.
It is also possible to write this passage entirely in present tense:
Solution 2: Before we know it, Mom rushes us outside to the car, which is icy. She is furious
and glares at the three of us.
In both solutions, all verbs have been double-checked in order to create consistency and clarity. Always be sure that you are proofreading carefully in order to avoid making this easily fixable mistake.
Copyright © by Lucas Pingel, usage permitted at St. Catherine University
