Consistent Verb Tense


Consistency in verb tenses refers to maintaining a uniform timeframe throughout a sentence, paragraph, or entire piece of writing. When writing, it's essential to ensure that the tense used remains consistent unless there's a clear reason for a shift in timeframe. Inconsistent verb tenses can confuse readers and disrupt the flow of the text. Here are 10 examples illustrating consistency in verb tenses:

Incorrect: "She walks to school every day, but yesterday she takes the bus."

Correct: "She walks to school every day, but yesterday she took the bus."


Incorrect: "He is studying for his exam last night."

Correct: "He was studying for his exam last night."


Incorrect: "I will be eat breakfast when my alarm clock rings."

Correct: "I eat breakfast when my alarm clock rings."


Incorrect: "She will go to the concert tomorrow, and she went last week too."

Correct: "She will go to the concert tomorrow, and she went last week too."


Incorrect: "We are planning to visit Rome next summer, and we visited Paris last year."

Correct: "We are planning to visit Rome next summer, and we visited Paris last year."


Incorrect: "He loves hiking in the mountains, and he will hike there next weekend."

Correct: "He loves hiking in the mountains, and he will hike there next weekend."


Incorrect: "They are studying for their exams this week, and they studied last week."

Correct: "They are studying for their exams this week, and they studied last week."


Incorrect: "She writes a novel last year, and she is working on a new one now."

Correct: "She wrote a novel last year, and she is working on a new one now."


Incorrect: "He goes to the gym yesterday, and he goes again today."

Correct: "He went to the gym yesterday, and he is going again today."


Incorrect: "I will read the book once I finish my homework, and I read it yesterday."

Correct: "I will read the book once I finish my homework, and I read it yesterday."


Maintaining consistency in verb tenses helps to ensure clarity and coherence in writing, making it easier for readers to follow the narrative or argument presented.