8. Tense Agreement (SAT) (SAT WRITING)

​Digital SAT

Grammar Section


Lesson 8

​ Tense Agreement

​Tense agreement refers to the consistency of verb tenses within a sentence or a passage. It ensures that the timing of actions, events, or states is clear and logical to the reader. When verbs agree in tense, it maintains coherence and prevents confusion. Here are some key points to understand tense agreement better:

Key Concepts of Tense Agreement:

1. Consistency Within Sentences: Verbs within the same sentence or closely connected sentences should generally match in tense, unless a shift in time is clearly indicated.

Ex: "She studies hard and expects to get good grades." (Both verbs are in the present tense.)
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2. Logical Sequence of Events: When describing events that occur at different times, use different tenses appropriately to reflect the sequence.

Ex: "He had finished his homework before he went out to play." (Past perfect followed by simple past to show sequence.)

3. Dependent and Independent Clauses: Ensure the verb tenses in dependent clauses are consistent with the tense of the main verb in the independent clause.

Ex: "She said that she would call when she arrived." (Future in the past for both actions.)​

4. Avoid Unnecessary Shifts: Avoid shifting tenses unnecessarily within a sentence or a passage, as this can confuse readers.

Incorrect: "She was eating dinner when the phone rings."

Correct: "She was eating dinner when the phone rang."

Examples of Correct Tense Agreement:

1. Simple Past Tense:
He finished his project and went home.

(Both actions are in the past and are connected logically.)

2. Present Tense:
She walks to school and meets her friends at the gate.

(Both actions occur regularly in the present.)

3. Future Tense:
They will travel to Paris and explore the city.

(Both actions are planned for the future.)

Practice Exercise:

Identify and correct the tense errors in the following sentences:

1. "She was eating dinner when the phone rings."

Correct: "She was eating dinner when the phone rang."

2. "He goes to the gym every morning and worked out for an hour."

Correct: "He goes to the gym every morning and works out for an hour."

3. "They are planning to visit Paris last year."

Correct: "They planned to visit Paris last year."