1. Verb Tenses The “Do’s” and “Don’t’s” with Shifts in Verb Tense

2. Ways to Use Tense Tenses are useful tools to a successful writer. Tenses are useful tools to a successful writer. They allow varying sentence structures. They allow varying sentence structures.

3. Past Tense Past Tense: We skated. Past Tense: We skated. Past Perfect: We had skated before you arrived. Past Perfect: We had skated before you arrived. Past Progressive: We were skating when you arrived. Past Progressive: We were skating when you arrived.

4. Present Tense Present Tense: We skate. Present Tense: We skate. Present Perfect: We have been skating all day. Present Perfect: We have been skating all day. Present Progressive: We are skating right now. Present Progressive: We are skating right now.

5. Future Tense Future Tense: We will skate tomorrow afternoon. Future Tense: We will skate tomorrow afternoon. Future Perfect: We will have skated for an hour before our parents arrive. Future Perfect: We will have skated for an hour before our parents arrive. Future Progressive: We will be skating all day next Saturday. Future Progressive: We will be skating all day next Saturday.

6. Assignments Involving Tense Assignments sometimes involve specific tenses. Assignments sometimes involve specific tenses. Staying within that tense is important. Staying within that tense is important. Try to vary sentence structure without going outside the bounds of the tense assigned for the topic. Try to vary sentence structure without going outside the bounds of the tense assigned for the topic.

7. Example No. 1 Wrong- The soldiers were forced to march all the way to Berlin. By this time, they have marched to the point of exhaustion. Wrong- The soldiers were forced to march all the way to Berlin. By this time, they have marched to the point of exhaustion. Right- The soldiers were forced to march all the way to Berlin. By this time, they had marched to the point of exhaustion. Right- The soldiers were forced to march all the way to Berlin. By this time, they had marched to the point of exhaustion. Or- The soldiers were forced to march all the way to Berlin, pushing them to the point of exhaustion. Or- The soldiers were forced to march all the way to Berlin, pushing them to the point of exhaustion.

8. Example No. 2 Using them to your advantage In one year they will be going to college. After two years they will have chosen their major and will be taking a more specific curriculum.