{"id":40,"date":"2022-07-13T16:54:02","date_gmt":"2022-07-13T20:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicating\/chapter\/verb-tense\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T19:00:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T00:00:26","slug":"chapter-10","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/communicating\/chapter\/chapter-10\/","title":{"raw":"Verb Tense","rendered":"Verb Tense"},"content":{"raw":"
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\r\n\r\nAll starting writers struggle with [pb_glossary id=\"252\"]verb tenses[\/pb_glossary]. More specifically, they tend to struggle with keeping the tenses consistent, especially in long documents.\r\n\r\nIf you've ever received feedback from a professor about \"inconsistent tense\" or \"passive voice,\" then something is probably wrong with your verbs. Keeping verb tenses<\/strong> consistent will ensure your audience knows whether an event happened in the past, present, or future.\r\n\r\nIn this chapter, we will briefly review [pb_glossary id=\"251\"]verbs[\/pb_glossary], discuss different verb tenses<\/strong>, and finish off by discussing how to avoid the [pb_glossary id=\"198\"]passive voice[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> and [pb_glossary id=\"185\"]nominalizations[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

The basics<\/h2>\r\nVerbs perform two tasks. First, they are the action of the sentence. They tell the reader what sort of action you, someone, or something, did.\r\n
I walked<\/span> to the store.<\/div>\r\nIn the above example, the verb \"walked\" tells the reader what kind of action brought you to the store. We know the person didn't run, skip, or saunter to the store; they walked.\r\n\r\nSecond, verbs tell the audience when <\/em>something happened. This is where verb tenses<\/strong> come in. In the same example, \"walked\" is in the past tense so we know the event happened in the past. There are three main tenses: present, past, and future. However, within those three tenses are several more.\r\n\r\nIn your writing, you will mostly be using [pb_glossary id=\"249\"]simple present[\/pb_glossary], [pb_glossary id=\"248\"]simple past[\/pb_glossary] and [pb_glossary id=\"165\"]simple future[\/pb_glossary]. The issue that most people run into, though, is being consistent<\/em> with their verb tenses.\r\n

Maintaining consistent verb tense<\/h2>\r\n
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\r\n\r\nConsistent verb tense<\/strong><\/span><\/span> means the same verb tense is used throughout a sentence or a paragraph. As you write and revise, make sure you use the same verb tense<\/strong> consistently and avoid shifting from one tense to another, unless there is a good reason for it.\r\n\r\nLet's look at an example. In the following box, can you see how the tense is inconsistent?\r\n
We will submit the report after I finished my section.<\/div>\r\nThere are two different verb tenses being used here: simple future<\/strong> (will submit) and simple past<\/strong> (finished). Let's fix this problem by keeping the tenses consistent.\r\n
Simple Future<\/strong>: We will submit the report after I finish my section\r\nSimple Past<\/strong>: We submitted the report after I finished my section<\/div>\r\nAs you can see, there are two ways to fix this problem. While both are now grammatically correct, the one you use will depend on what information you are trying to convey.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nNow, in some cases, clear communication will call for different tenses. Look at the following example:\r\n
When I was a teenager, I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to be a firefighter, but now I\u00a0am studying\u00a0computer science.<\/div>\r\nIn the above example, the writer talks about a past desire and their present situation. Whenever the time frame for each action or state is different, a tense shift is appropriate.\r\n
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\r\n\r\nIn the professional world,\u00a0 your coworkers will most likely not correct your verb tenses<\/strong> or call attention to grammatical errors, but keep in mind that these errors do have a subtle negative impact in the workplace, just as they do when applying for jobs and communicating with clients. If you keep making small mistakes like this, the receiver of your message may assume you do not pay attention to little details.\r\n\r\n
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Simplifying verbs<\/h2>\r\nAnother issue that writers have is overcomplicating their verbs with extra words. In almost every instance, if you realize you can simplify your writing by taking out words, that is the best option. In regards to verbs, the issue typically stems from writers using [pb_glossary id=\"198\"]passive voice[\/pb_glossary] and [pb_glossary id=\"185\"]nominalizations[\/pb_glossary] in their writing.\r\n

Active voice and passive voice<\/h2>\r\nEven when writers have consistent verb tenses, they often overcomplicate their writing by expressing the action in as many words as possible. One way they do this is by using the passive voice<\/strong>. Consider the following sentences, for instance. Which would you prefer to read?\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
PASSIVE VOICE<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe candidate cannot\u00a0be supported by<\/strong>\u00a0our membership.<\/td>\r\nACTIVE VOICE<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOur members cannot\u00a0support<\/strong>\u00a0the candidate.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nMost readers would prefer the second option. Why? Here, the [pb_glossary id=\"166\"]active voice[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> construction on the right uses two fewer words to communicate the same meaning. As a result, it is more direct than the passive voice<\/strong> construction. How does it do that?\r\n\r\nFirst, let's define the two terms. Active voice\u00a0<\/strong>is a sentence structure where the subject carries out<\/span> the action.\u00a0Passive voice<\/strong> is a sentence structure where the subject receives<\/span> the action.\r\n\r\nEssentially, the difference comes down to the [pb_glossary id=\"210\"]subject [\/pb_glossary] and [pb_glossary id=\"251\"]verb[\/pb_glossary]. Who is the subject of the passive voice<\/strong> sentence? It's not \"the candidate\" because the action of the sentence is not being done by them. The subject is \"our membership\"\u00a0 because they are the ones doing the supporting.\r\n\r\nIn the active voice<\/strong> sentence, \"members\" has been moved to the start of the sentence. It is clear that they are doing the action.\r\n\r\nBoth sentences are valid grammatically. You could use either format in your writing and the reader would understand what you are saying. However, the active voice<\/strong> is generally the better one to use since active sentences tend to be shorter, more precise, and easier to understand.\r\n\r\nThere are legitimate uses of the passive voice<\/strong> though. When you want to deemphasize the doer of the action, passive voice<\/strong> is a good choice. Look at the example below.\r\n
Ten late arrivals were recorded this month.<\/div>\r\nIn this example, the passive voice<\/strong> above doesn\u2019t place blame or credit, so it can be more diplomatic in some contexts. Passive voice<\/strong> also allows the writer to avoid personal references or personal pronouns (he, she, they) to create a more objective tone. Additionally, there are situations where the doer of the action is unknown, as in the following example.\r\n
Graffiti was painted on the side of our building last night.<\/div>\r\nWe don't know who created the graffiti, so a passive form is useful here.\r\n\r\nHowever, keep in mind that overusing the passive voice<\/strong> sounds unnatural and appears as an attempt to extend the word count or sound fancier and objective. Most readers prefer the active voice<\/strong> because the passive<\/strong> voice<\/strong> is either too wordy or too vague.\r\n\r\n
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Nominalization<\/h2>\r\nAnother issue that overcomplicates writing is when writers turn the main action they describe into nouns, a process called [pb_glossary id=\"185\"]nominalization[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>. This involves taking a verb and adding a suffix such as\u00a0-ant, -ent, -ion, -tion, -sion, -ence, -ance,<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0-ing<\/em>, as well as adding forms of other verbs, such as \"to make\" or \"to give.\" Nominalization<\/strong> may also require articles (the<\/em>,\u00a0a<\/em>, or\u00a0an<\/em>) before the action nouns. Consider the following comparisons of nominalized-verb sentences with simplified verb forms:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
NOMINALIZED FORM<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe committee\u00a0had a\u00a0discussion<\/strong>\u00a0about the new budget constraints.<\/td>\r\nSIMPLIFIED FORM<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe committee\u00a0discussed<\/strong>\u00a0the new budget constraints.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
We\u00a0will make a\u00a0recommendation<\/strong>\u00a0to proceed with the investment option.<\/td>\r\nWe will\u00a0recommend<\/strong>\u00a0proceeding with the investment option.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
They\u00a0handed down a\u00a0judgment<\/strong>\u00a0that the offer wasn\u2019t worth their time.<\/td>\r\nThey\u00a0judged<\/strong>\u00a0that the offer wasn\u2019t worth their time.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
The regulator will\u00a0grant\u00a0<\/strong>approval<\/strong>\u00a0of<\/strong>\u00a0the new process within the week.<\/td>\r\nThe regulator will\u00a0approve<\/strong>\u00a0the new process within the week.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
He always\u00a0gives me\u00a0advice<\/strong>\u00a0on what to say to the media.<\/td>\r\nHe always\u00a0advises<\/strong>\u00a0me on what to say to the media.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
She\u2019s\u00a0giving<\/strong>\u00a0your application\u00a0a\u00a0pass<\/strong>\u00a0because of all the errors in it.<\/td>\r\nShe\u2019s\u00a0passing<\/strong>\u00a0on your application because of all the errors in it.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nYou can tell that the simplified sentences have greater impact than those that use nominalizations<\/strong>. In all of the nominalization<\/strong> examples, more words are required to communicate the same meaning. When writing contains all three issues we've discussed (inconsistent verb tense, passive voice, and nominalizations), it becomes muddled and lacks the clarity that is expected in professional writing.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n \r\n
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[h5p id=\"14\"]<\/h2>\r\n \r\n
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Parallelism (or parallel structure)<\/h2>\r\nWhen constructing sentences, all parts need to work in parallel.\r\n\r\nTo understand parallel structure, let's first look at an example of faulty parallelism<\/em>.\r\n

We need to buy apples, oranges, and I love bananas most.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nReading that quickly or even reading it aloud, you might not immediately notice the problem. However, if we break this sentence into three, the problem becomes clear immediately:\r\n