Avoiding Unnecessary Shifts in Verb Tense (Rules 3 aâc)
NAME
Language Handbook
CLASS
DATE
3 Using Verbs
Avoiding Unnecessary Shifts in Verb Tense (Rules 3 a–c)
WORKSHEET 6
Exercise A The following sentences are written mainly in the present tense. Underline each verb that is mistakenly in the past tense. Then, on the line provided, write the correct present tense of the verb. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
EXAMPLE
is
1. Mathilde is a pretty French woman who was married to a poor but pleasant clerk in the government service.
_________________
1. Because of his small income, Mathilde’s husband was not able to give her the life of luxury and romance for which she yearns.
_________________
2. One day he joyously brings home an invitation to a fancy ball.
_________________
3. His wife, however, is not happy because she lacked suitable jewels for such an affair.
_________________
4. She solved her problem by borrowing a diamond necklace from a friend in better circumstances.
_________________
5. After making a great hit at the ball because of her beauty, she finds, when she arrived home, that the necklace was gone.
_________________
6. By going deeply into debt, she and her husband bought another necklace to replace the one they lost.
_________________
7. For ten years they live in attics and scrimp and struggle to pay off their debt.
_________________
8. During that time, she lost her beauty and became so plain and worn that no one can recognize her for the beautiful girl she once was.
_________________
9. Once Mathilde and her husband are finally out of debt, Mathilde decided to tell her friend how she lost the borrowed necklace and supplied a substitute.
_________________ 10. “Oh, no Mathilde!” her friend gasped with amazement. “Why, the necklace I lent you was only paste!”
Exercise B In each of the following sentences, the first verb is in the past tense and the second verb is in the present tense. If the shift to present tense is correct because the second part of the statement is a general truth, write C on the line provided. If the tense incorrectly shifts from past to present, underline the incorrect verb form and write the correct form on the line provided. EXAMPLE
_________________
Elements of Literature
based
1. The French scientists who invented the metric system base their system on the circumference of the earth.
1. In science class we learned that most countries use the metric system.
Continued
☞
Using Verbs
21
NAME
Language Handbook
CLASS
3 Worksheet 6
DATE
(continued)
_________________
2. Mrs. Katz brought metric measuring tools to class and shows us how to use them.
_________________
3. She told us that scientists measure length in meters and centimeters.
_________________
4. We discovered that a meter consists of one hundred equal parts, called centimeters.
_________________
5. We placed two rulers side by side and compare one inch to one centimeter.
_________________
6. All of us agreed that one inch equals approximately two-and-a-half centimeters.
_________________
7. One student asked how scientists measure long distances.
_________________
8. “In kilometers,” replied a student who moves here from Mexico.
_________________
9. Dolores explained that a kilometer is equal to one thousand meters, or about six tenths of a mile.
_________________ 10. We calculated that the sun is about 150 million kilometers from earth.
Exercise C In the following paragraph the verb tenses are not consistent. Decide whether the paragraph should be in present or past tense. Then, draw a line through each verb you wish to change, and write the correct form above it to make the tenses consistent.
EXAMPLE
[1] In August, our family goes on vacation to the coast; because I lets have received my license, Dad let me drive part of the way. or went [1] In August, our family goes on vacation to the coast; because I had have received my license, Dad let me drive part of the way.
[1] We seldom spend much time in our rooms if we could help it. [2] The seashore, where we can enjoy swimming or go snorkeling, beckoned. [3] My little sister likes to hunt for seashells early in the morning before anyone else was on the beach. [4] She had good luck finding sand dollars and a variety of whelks that she can add to her collection. [5] In the evenings we like to sit at the top of the dunes, where we watched the stars come out.
22
Language Handbook Worksheets
Elements of Literature
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
EXAMPLE
Language Handbook
CLASS
DATE
3 Using Verbs
Avoiding Unnecessary Shifts in Verb Tense (Rules 3 a–c)
WORKSHEET 6
Exercise A The following sentences are written mainly in the present tense. Underline each verb that is mistakenly in the past tense. Then, on the line provided, write the correct present tense of the verb. If a sentence is already correct, write C.
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
EXAMPLE
is
1. Mathilde is a pretty French woman who was married to a poor but pleasant clerk in the government service.
_________________
1. Because of his small income, Mathilde’s husband was not able to give her the life of luxury and romance for which she yearns.
_________________
2. One day he joyously brings home an invitation to a fancy ball.
_________________
3. His wife, however, is not happy because she lacked suitable jewels for such an affair.
_________________
4. She solved her problem by borrowing a diamond necklace from a friend in better circumstances.
_________________
5. After making a great hit at the ball because of her beauty, she finds, when she arrived home, that the necklace was gone.
_________________
6. By going deeply into debt, she and her husband bought another necklace to replace the one they lost.
_________________
7. For ten years they live in attics and scrimp and struggle to pay off their debt.
_________________
8. During that time, she lost her beauty and became so plain and worn that no one can recognize her for the beautiful girl she once was.
_________________
9. Once Mathilde and her husband are finally out of debt, Mathilde decided to tell her friend how she lost the borrowed necklace and supplied a substitute.
_________________ 10. “Oh, no Mathilde!” her friend gasped with amazement. “Why, the necklace I lent you was only paste!”
Exercise B In each of the following sentences, the first verb is in the past tense and the second verb is in the present tense. If the shift to present tense is correct because the second part of the statement is a general truth, write C on the line provided. If the tense incorrectly shifts from past to present, underline the incorrect verb form and write the correct form on the line provided. EXAMPLE
_________________
Elements of Literature
based
1. The French scientists who invented the metric system base their system on the circumference of the earth.
1. In science class we learned that most countries use the metric system.
Continued
☞
Using Verbs
21
NAME
Language Handbook
CLASS
3 Worksheet 6
DATE
(continued)
_________________
2. Mrs. Katz brought metric measuring tools to class and shows us how to use them.
_________________
3. She told us that scientists measure length in meters and centimeters.
_________________
4. We discovered that a meter consists of one hundred equal parts, called centimeters.
_________________
5. We placed two rulers side by side and compare one inch to one centimeter.
_________________
6. All of us agreed that one inch equals approximately two-and-a-half centimeters.
_________________
7. One student asked how scientists measure long distances.
_________________
8. “In kilometers,” replied a student who moves here from Mexico.
_________________
9. Dolores explained that a kilometer is equal to one thousand meters, or about six tenths of a mile.
_________________ 10. We calculated that the sun is about 150 million kilometers from earth.
Exercise C In the following paragraph the verb tenses are not consistent. Decide whether the paragraph should be in present or past tense. Then, draw a line through each verb you wish to change, and write the correct form above it to make the tenses consistent.
EXAMPLE
[1] In August, our family goes on vacation to the coast; because I lets have received my license, Dad let me drive part of the way. or went [1] In August, our family goes on vacation to the coast; because I had have received my license, Dad let me drive part of the way.
[1] We seldom spend much time in our rooms if we could help it. [2] The seashore, where we can enjoy swimming or go snorkeling, beckoned. [3] My little sister likes to hunt for seashells early in the morning before anyone else was on the beach. [4] She had good luck finding sand dollars and a variety of whelks that she can add to her collection. [5] In the evenings we like to sit at the top of the dunes, where we watched the stars come out.
22
Language Handbook Worksheets
Elements of Literature
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
EXAMPLE
