C7: Keep Verb Tense Consistent
C7: Keep Verb Tense Consistent: Avoid shifting from one verb tense to another unless there is a good reason for the tense shift. See Writing for Success Section 2.3 pp. 70-71 or the following: https://webapps.towson.edu/ows/tenseconsistency.htm (scroll down on the website)
Don’t shift from past to present without cause:
As we sat around the campfire, Elmer tells a ghost story.
Correct:
As we sat around the campfire, Elmer told a ghost story.
(Now the tense is consistent in the past).
Don’t shift from present to past without cause:
First, Coco gets in Rico’s car. Then, she told him how much she loves him.
Correct:
First, Coco gets in Rico’s car. Then, she tells him how much she loves him.
Don’t shift from future to past without cause:
Incorrect:
By the time Sara turns eighteen, she learned that not every friendly guy is nice.
Correct:
By the time Sara turns eighteen, she will learn that not every friendly guy is nice.
Just yesterday, I see them wearing brand new Armani suits. You should see the way everyone looks at them in the place where they were eating.
Consistent:
Twenty years from now, Carlo and his brothers will be running the city. Just yesterday, I saw them wearing brand new Armani suits. You should see the way everyone looked at them in the place where they were eating.
Inconsistent:
We learned how, back in 1975, Walter leaves the city to live in the caves on Mount Ord.
Consistent:
We learned how, back in 1975, Walter left the city to live in the caves on Mount Ord.