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The 4 Most Common Verb Tense Mistakes for Rookie Writers

Incorrect verb tenses are a common mistake made by beginning writers. It takes a lot of focus to make the whole writing consistent.

Verb tense tells the reader when something happened (past, present, future) and how it relates to other events in the story. And it is one of the elements that keep the reader on the hook. Incorrect verb tenses make the flow of the writing break.

There are four types of common mistakes writers can make regarding verb tenses-

1. Shifting tenses within a sentence or paragraph:

• Example: He woke up feeling refreshed, opens the window, and breathes in the crisp morning air.
• Solution: Stick to one tense throughout the sentence unless there’s a clear shift in time. In this case, use either past tense (“woke up,” “opened,” “breathed”) or present tense (“wakes up,” “opens,” “breathes”).

2. Using the wrong past tense:

• Confusing simple past and past continuous: Simple past describes a completed action (“He walked to the store”), while past continuous describes an ongoing action in the past (“He was walking to the store when he saw her”).
• Confusing past perfect and past simple: Past perfect describes an action completed before another past action (“He had finished his homework before dinner”). Past simple describes an action completed in the past without reference to another action (“He finished his homework”).
• Solution: Understand the difference between these tenses and choose the one that accurately reflects the timing of the action.

3. Incorrect sequence of tenses:

• Example: She said she will be back tomorrow, but now she says she won’t be back until next week.
• Solution: When reporting someone’s past words, use the past tense form of the verb tense used in their original speech. In this case, “said” remains in the past tense, but “will be” becomes “would be” and “won’t be” becomes “wouldn’t be”.

4. Using the wrong tense in dialogue:

• Example: “I thought you were coming later!” she exclaimed.
• Solution: Dialogue usually follows the present tense, even if it refers to past events within the story’s timeline. So, “I think you were coming later!” would be more appropriate.

Then how can you avoid these common mistakes?

1. Choose a tense and stick to it: Decide whether your story will be told in past, present, or future tense, and remain consistent throughout.
2. Use timelines and storyboards: If you have a complex plot with multiple time jumps, create a timeline or storyboard to keep track of when things happen.
3. Pay attention to transitions: Be mindful of how you transition between scenes or time periods. Use transition words that signal the change, like “later,” “earlier,” or “meanwhile.”
4. Read your work aloud: This helps you catch inconsistencies and awkward phrasing that might not be obvious when you’re just reading silently.
5. Use grammar resources: Online tools and grammar guides can help you identify and correct verb tense errors.

Remember, consistent and correct verb tense usage is crucial for crafting a clear and engaging narrative. By understanding the rules, practicing actively, and utilizing available resources, you can not make this common rookie mistake and take your writing to the next level!