Verb Tense Consistency - Tutorial

Verb tense consistency

Rules in verb tense consistency

Present tense

1. The present tense may be followed by another present tense
2. The present tense may be followed by a past tense.
3. The present tense may be followed by the present perfect,
4. The present can be used with the future tense.
5. The present tense should NOT be used with the past perfect unless a suitable tense follows the past perfect.

Past tense

1. The simple past can be followed by another simple past.
2. The simple past may be used with the past progressive.
3. The simple past can be used with the future.
4. The simple past should NOT be used with the present perfect (although in informal speech, it is sometimes used)

Examples

Present tense

1. Plants do not just grow to beautify the earth but are also vital to all life on earth because they give us oxygen. (all three ideas are understood to be facts)
2. Scientists believe that the first river terrapins were brought from Indonesia by the first Sultan of Perak (the scientist will continue to believe, but the actual event of bringing in the river terrapins is a completed action)
3. The community values pearl oysters highly and has cultivated such oysters for more than a thousand years because of the pearls that develop in them. (the society will continue to value pearl oysters, and the action of cultivating the oysters started in the past and will continue on)
4. Scientists predict that social networking sites will become a powerful medium of communication by the end of this decade.
5. Alexander insists that he had seen the other car. (WRONG) – there should be another event after “he had seen the other car”. (the past perfect can only be used when there are two events in the past) CORRECTION : Alexander insisted that he had seen the other car.

Past tense

1. The need to organize a clean-up campaign became more urgent after about one-third of the residents of Kampung Congkak came down with dengue. (both are completed events)
2. The police were curious to know if Alex was speeding at the time of the horrific accident. (both are completed events)
3. The suppliers told Mr. Tan that the new shipment of Blackberries will arrive the week after next. (the action of telling is completed, but the arrival has yet to happen)
4. She reported that she has been running nine miles every morning. (informal speech therefore acceptable)
1. Other options

i. She reports that she runs nine miles every morning.

ii. She reported that she had been running nine miles every morning.

Summary of verb tense consistency

Common combinations

Present tense

• Simple present + simple present
• Simple present + simple past
• Simple present + simple future
• Simple present + present perfect

Past tense

• Past simple + past simple
• Past simple + past continuous
• Past simple + future simple