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HOLT HANDBOOK Fourth Course
Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.
NAME CLASS DATE
Consistency of Tense
Do not change needlessly from one tense to another.
(1) When describing events that occur at the same time, use verbs in the same tense.
EXAMPLE Gail loaded film in the camera and took several pictures as the eagle soared overhead.
(2) When describing events that occur at different times, use verbs in different tenses to show the
sequence of events.
EXAMPLE She took the film to the processor and will enter the pictures in a contest when they
come back.
EXERCISE In the sentences below, cross out any verb tense error and write the correct form above it. If a
sentence is already correct, write C to the left of the numeral. (Note: There is more than one way to revise
some sentences; give only one answer.)
Example
1.
Connie called her brother and asks him over for dinner.
1.
Tomorrow night we will go to the concert, and Jane joined us.
2.
If you have asked me earlier, I would have been able to give you an answer.
3.
Ever since Marilu will have become president of the company, sales have increased.
4.
My niece Claire had left before Harold arrives.
5.
When you are at the store, did you pick up any onions?
6.
I had decided to try out for the team even before the coach called me.
7.
Pascal had been living in Italy for two months when he was meeting Rosa.
8.
What happened to the box of cereal we have been buying yesterday?
9.
Perhaps we will never know how it disappeared from the cupboard.
10.
Joel lifted the suitcase and has set it in the overhead bin on the airplane.
USAGE
for CHAPTER 7: USING VERBS CORRECTLY
pages 195=96
7f.
asked
