Problems with Verbs

Illogical time sequence

Recognize time sequences in your writing and choose verb tenses that logically reflect that sequence. Sometimes the choice of a tense clearly affects your meaning.

• Esther worked at the department store for a year.

Use the past tense to indicate a completed action. Esther no longer works at the department store.

• Esther has worked at the department store for a year.

Use the present perfect tense to indicate that a past action is continuing in the present. Esther still works at the department store.

• Esther had worked at the department store for a year.

Use the past perfect tense to indicate that something else happened after Esther's year. For example, Esther had worked at the department store for a year when she was asked to take over sporting goods.

When to use the perfect tense

Learn to use the perfect tenses when they are appropriate to your meaning. Don't limit yourself to the simple past tense when writing about past action. In the following sentences, for example, a perfect tense should have been used to establish time sequence.

• The car wash stood where the library was. (no)

• All the things you told me I heard before. (no)

In the first sentence, since the library was in the location before the car wash—it would be difficult for them to occupy the same space at the same time—past perfect should be used for the second verb.

• The car wash stood where the library had been.

The logic of the second sentence dictates that heard should be in the past perfect tense. The word before is an obvious clue that the hearing took place before the telling, even though both actions were completed in the past.

• All the things you told me, I had heard before.

Faulty if clauses

The past perfect tense should also be used in a subjunctive past tense “ if clause.”

• If she had thought of it, she would have called you.

A common error is to use the conditional would have or could have in both clauses. Would have and could have should be used only in the clause that states the consequences.

• If I had wanted to, I would have made cookies.

• not If I would have wanted to, I would have made cookies.

• If we had brought matches, we could have made a bonfire.

• not If we would have brought matches, we could have made a bonfire.

Inconsistency in tenses

Another common error is illogically mixing tenses within a sentence or within an entire piece of writing. Choose the tense you want to use in your sentence or in your essay and then make certain that all verbs are consistent with it, either by being in the same tense or by reflecting past and future times in relation to your main tense.

• Robertson went into the market, walks over to the produce section, and picks through the tomatoes. (inconsistent tenses)

In the preceding sentence there is no logical reason to move from the past tense ( went) to the present tense ( walks, picks). Use the past tense or the present tense—not both. Rewrite the sentence using consistent tenses.

• Robertson went into the market, walked over to the produce section, and picked through the tomatoes. (consistent tenses)

Look at the tenses in this group of sentences.

• Unlike Richardson's, this program will pay its own way. It specified that anyone who wanted to use the service has to pay a fee. People who refused to do so won't receive the benefits. (inconsistent tenses)

Notice that the changes in tense between sentences are not related to a clear time sequence. A rewritten version of this piece shows a more consistent, logical use of tenses.

• Unlike Richardson's, this program will pay its own way. It specifies that anyone who wants to use the service has to pay a fee. People who refuse to do so won't receive the benefits. (consistent tenses)

In this version, all verb tenses except the first ( will pay) and last ( won't receive = will not receive) are in the present tense. The future tense is appropriately used for the first and last verbs because these verbs indicate future consequences.

Irregular verbs