Verb tense tells when an action happens, and a shift is an unjustified change of tense in the middle of a sentence or paragraph.
A sentence that begins in the past, such as when the bell rang, should not continue with a present-tense verb like he grabs. Present perfect forms such as have finished describe an action connected to now, so they clash with a fixed past time marker like last summer.
Questions on verb tense and shifts usually present a short numbered paragraph and ask which sentence should be revised; the right pick is the one whose verb breaks the time frame set by the sentences around it.
Sample questions
Pick an answer to see whether it is right — nothing is saved, and nothing needs an account.
Question 1Easier
Which sentence contains an error in its construction and should be revised?
(1) A few years ago, the city opened a floating pool in a nearby river as part of a public recreation program. (2) During the first season, thousands of visitors have entered the gates. (3) Engineers designed filters that cleaned river water for swimming and monitored the system throughout each day. (4) Local newspapers called the project a surprise summer success and reported on the recreation program throughout the season.
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Answer: B — sentence 2
The completed first season calls for the simple past “entered,” not the present perfect “have entered.” Therefore, “sentence 2” contains the tense error. “sentence 1,” “sentence 3,” and “sentence 4” correctly use the simple past for completed events.
Question 2Easier
Which sentence contains an error in its construction and should be revised?
(1) Next month the drama club will stage a one-act festival in the black-box theater. (2) Directors plan to hold a final tech run on the Wednesday before opening. (3) Ticket sales open online this Friday for students and families. (4) Stage managers post the call times on the callboard yesterday and will confirm them again on Monday.
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Answer: D — sentence 4
Yesterday requires a past form: posted, not post. The surrounding future and present-future plans are otherwise consistent.
Question 3Easier
Which sentence contains an error in its construction and should be revised?
(1) When the bus pulled up, Jamal realizes he left his note cards on the kitchen table. (2) Before the school bus arrived, he had finished packing his science fair board in the hallway. (3) He had checked the glue joints twice the night before. (4) His sister texted a photo of the cards so he could still present from his phone.
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Answer: A — sentence 1
The past-tense narrative in “sentence 1” incorrectly shifts from “pulled” to the present-tense verb “realizes”; “realizes” should be “realized.” The sequence of past actions in “sentence 2” and “sentence 3” uses the past perfect correctly. The verbs in “sentence 4” consistently describe completed past actions, so that sentence also needs no revision.
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