Welcome This slide presentation is designed to help students learn to recognize tense shifting so that they may use it correctly in their own writing. This slide presentation is divided into two parts. The first part is an introduction which discusses the fundamentals of past tense, present tense, and tense shifting. The second part consists of some practice exercises that students may use to apply the concepts they learn. Enjoy!

Part one: The introduction

Readers usually expect a piece of writing to use tense consistently from beginning to end. Tense shifting occurs whenever the verb tense in a piece of writing changes between the past and the present tenses, as in the following examples: Introduction: Juan played his guitar, which is twenty years old. past tense present tense Juan loves his guitar, which was stolen yesterday. present tense past tense

Sometimes, tense shifting is appropriate; other times it is not. Frequent or unnecessary shifts in tense can distract readers and even confuse the meaning of a piece of writing, as in the following examples: Introduction: Each time he played his guitar, Juan breaks a string. past tense present tense Juan loved his guitar, which is stolen yesterday. present tense past tense As soon as he wakes, Juan played his guitar. present tensepast tense Juan loved his guitar, which is stolen yesterday. past tense present tense

Introduction: As the previous examples illustrate, it is important for writers to use tense consistently and to make shifts only for clear reasons. To do this, writers must first understand the fundamentals of the past tense, the present tense, and tense shifting. These fundamentals are introduced in the next few slides.

Introduction: The Past Tense Writers use the past tense to describe events that were completed in the past or to make statements or generalizations that are tied to the past. Examples: Juan played the guitar for his girlfriend last night. Because Juan did not practice, he played poorly. Juan failed to impress his girlfriend. Juan decided to practice.

Introduction: The present Tense Writers use the present tense to make statements of fact or to make generalizations that are true now and will continue to be true unless something happens to change the situation. Examples: Juan plays the guitar for his girlfriend every night. Because Juan does not practice, he plays poorly. Juan always fails to impress his girlfriend. Whenever he fails, Juan always decides to practice.

Introduction: Tense shifting Once writers commit to a tense, they stick with it unless there is a reason to shift. Writers shift tenses when they need to describe both a completed action and a habitual action or state of being. Examples: Juan plays the guitar for his girlfriend every night. Because Juan does not practice, his playing is always poor. Juan always fails to impress his girlfriend. Each time he played his guitar, Juan breaks a string. past tense present tense Juan loved his guitar, which is stolen yesterday. present tense past tense Juan played the guitar for his girlfriend, who likes it. past tense (completed action)present tense (habitual action) Juan loves his guitar, which was stolen yesterday. present tense (habitual action) past tense (completed action)

Introduction: review Each time he played his guitar, Juan breaks a string. past tense present tense Juan loved his guitar, which is stolen yesterday. present tense past tense Use the past tense to describe events that were completed in the past or to make statements or generalizations that are tied to the past. Use the present tense to make statements of fact or to make generalizations that are true now and will continue to be true unless something happens to change the situation. Use tense shifting to describe both a completed action and a habitual action or state of being. Otherwise, choose one tense and stick to it.

Part two: Practice exercises

Tense practice #1 Now that you have reviewed some of the basics, it is time to practice identifying the past and present tenses in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s guitar has a picture of flowers on it. Juan’s girlfriend prefers real flowers. Playing the guitar is Juan’s passion. Juan’s playing embarrasses his girlfriend. Last night, Juan broke two strings at the same time. Today, Juan bought some new strings. Continue Tense practice #1

Now that you have reviewed some of the basics, it is time to practice identifying the past and present tenses in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s guitar has a picture of flowers on it. (present) Juan’s girlfriend prefers real flowers. Playing the guitar is Juan’s passion. Juan’s playing embarrasses his girlfriend. Last night, Juan broke two strings at the same time. Today, Juan bought some new strings. Continue

Tense practice #1 Now that you have reviewed some of the basics, it is time to practice identifying the past and present tenses in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s guitar has a picture of flowers on it. Juan’s girlfriend prefers real flowers.(present) Playing the guitar is Juan’s passion. Juan’s playing embarrasses his girlfriend. Last night, Juan broke two strings at the same time. Today, Juan bought some new strings. Continue

Tense practice #1 Now that you have reviewed some of the basics, it is time to practice identifying the past and present tenses in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s guitar has a picture of flowers on it. Juan’s girlfriend prefers real flowers. Playing the guitar is Juan’s passion. (present) Juan’s playing embarrasses his girlfriend. Last night, Juan broke two strings at the same time. Today, Juan bought some new strings. Continue

Tense practice #1 Now that you have reviewed some of the basics, it is time to practice identifying the past and present tenses in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s guitar has a picture of flowers on it. Juan’s girlfriend prefers real flowers. Playing the guitar is Juan’s passion. Juan’s playing embarrasses his girlfriend. (present) Last night, Juan broke two strings at the same time. Today, Juan bought some new strings. Continue

Tense practice #1 Now that you have reviewed some of the basics, it is time to practice identifying the past and present tenses in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s guitar has a picture of flowers on it. Juan’s girlfriend prefers real flowers. Playing the guitar is Juan’s passion. Juan’s playing embarrasses his girlfriend. Last night, Juan broke two strings at the same time. (past) Today, Juan bought some new strings. Continue

If you are making a statement about something that is limited to the past, use the past tense. If you are making a statement about something that is not limited to the past, use the present tense The Bottom Line Tense practice #1 Now that you have reviewed some of the basics, it is time to practice identifying the past and present tenses in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s guitar has a picture of flowers on it. Juan’s girlfriend prefers real flowers. Playing the guitar is Juan’s passion. Juan’s playing embarrasses his girlfriend. Last night, Juan broke two strings at the same time. Today, Juan bought some new strings. (past) Continue

Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Continue Tense practice #2

Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Continue Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Continue Tense practice #2 Juan played his guitar, which has flowers on it. past tense (completed action) present tense (habitual action)

Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Continue Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Continue Tense practice #2 Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. past tense (completed action) present tense (habitual action)

Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Continue Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Continue Tense practice #2 Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. present tense (state of being) past tense (completed action)

Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Tense practice #2 Continue Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. present tense (habitual action) past tense (completed state of being)

Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Tense practice #2 Continue Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. present tense (habitual action) past tense (completed action)

Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Continue Tense practice #2 Now that you have practiced the past and present tenses, it is time to practice identifying tense shifting in the sentences below. Click the buttons on the left to see the correct answers. Juan’s played his guitar, which has flowers on it. Juan played for his girlfriend, who prefers real flowers. Guitars are Juan’s passion, so he bought another one. Juan sings to his girlfriend, who was embarrassed today. Juan often breaks strings, so he bought some extras. Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. Continue Tense practice #2 Juan bought new strings today, even though he is poor. past tense (completed action)present tense (state of being)

closing

Checklist In order to use tense shifting correctly in your own writing, observe the items on the following checklist: Ask yourself if the statement or generalization you want to make is limited to the past. Identify the verb in your sentence Identify the tense of your verb. Ask yourself if the tense of your verb agrees with the statement or generalization you want to make.

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