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Observing Verb Tense Consistency
Wednesday, May 13, 2020
By: Lesly Claribell Paz
When you are writing, do not switch tenses without good reason. If you begin writing in the past tense, do not switch to the present. If you begin with the present, do not switch to the past.
Observing Verb Tense Consistency
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Not consistent Aiden pulls over a chair and sat down. (Pulls is present tense; sat is past tense.)
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Consistent Aiden pulled over a chair and sat down. (Both verbs are in the past tense.)
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Not consistent Before he left the room, he checks the lights. (Left is past tense; checks is present tense.)
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Consistent Before he leaves the room, he checks the lights. (Both verbs are in the present tense.)
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Consistent Before he left the room, he checked the lights. (Both verbs are in the past tense)
Using Active and Passive Voice
Using Active and Passive Voice
Voice is that property of a transitive verb that tells whether the subject is doing the action or receiving the action described by the verb. Only transitive verbs have voice.
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lf the subject is doing the action, the transitive verb is in the active voice. If the subject is receiving the action, the transitive verb is in the passive voice.
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A hornet stung Bobby. (active voice)
Bobby was stung by a hornet. (passive voice)
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When the verb is changed from the active to the passive voice, the object of the verb becomes the subject, and the subject becomes the object of a preposition.
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Mr. Williams gladly received the refund. (transitive active)
The refund was gladly received by Mr. Williams. (transitive passive)
Note
Note: Sometimes the active subject may be omitted altogether.
The refund was gladly received. (Refund is a passive subject; the active subject Mr.
Williams has been omitted in the change from active voice to passive voice.)
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A verb in the passive voice must always contain a form of the verb “be" (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been) plus the past participle of a main verb. Shall, will, have, has, had are used in addition to ``be" and the past participle of a main verb in forming the future tense and the perfect tenses.
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Gold was found at Sutter's Mill in California. (form of be + past participle = past tense in passive voice)
Gold had been found at Sutter's Mill in California. (had + form of be + past participle = past perfect in passive voice)
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In writing, use the passive voice sparingly. Over use of the passive voice causes a weak and awkward style.
Practice
Exercise A, p.111
Practice
Exercise A, (numbers 1-5) p.112