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LANGUAGE ARTS :: SECONDARY RESOURCES :: RIGHT DIRECTION 3 :: CONSISTENCY OF VERB TENSE: GENERAL GUIDELINES

CONSISTENCY OF VERB TENSE: GENERAL GUIDELINES

* Planning Points

Approximate Time Needed:15 minutes for each mini lesson

Lesson Objectives:

  • Students will learn 3 general rules about verb tense
  • Students will apply these by writing sample sentences
  • Students will identify which rule(s) apply to their current writing assignment

Materials Needed:

  • Overheads of the first chart
  • Handouts of other charts
  • Student writing assignment

* Description
Show students the first chart below. Depending on what type of writing assignment your students are currently doing, you might wish to focus on the verb tense guidelines appropriate for that paper. For example, if students are working on autobiographies, present a mini-lesson on guidelines 2 and 3, events that occur at the same time and events that occur at different times. If students are writing about a piece of literature, focus on guideline 1, using literary present tense.

After students see the general guideline, complete the first sample sentence in the appropriate chart as a class. After the sentence is written, *identify the verb(s) and decide if they are past, present, or future. Highlight past in red, future in yellow, and present in green. Then let students, independently or in pairs, complete the other sentences. Share responses with the class.

*It helps some students if they only highlight the main verbs. Some get confused, for example, if "Juliet is dead." They think is means present and dead means past. Rather than get into a discussion of the present perfect tense, tell them to focus on the main verb.

Have students take out their own papers. Ask them to choose one paragraph and highlight verbs in different colors. If they "get stuck" on a sentence, tell them to put a dot beside it. These sentences can be used in a follow-up activity.

* Teacher's Notes

WHEN WE WRITE ABOUT . .

WE USE . .

literature or film

present tense

events that occur at the same time

same tense

events that occur at different times

different tenses

Literature or film

TITLE ACTION(S) SAMPLE SENTENCE(S)

Romeo & Juliet

 

 

 

Juliet-took potion

Romeo-thought Juliet was dead

Romeo committed suicide

Juliet committed suicide

Juliet takes the potion,and

Romeo thinks she is dead.

This causes Romeo and then Juliet to commit suicide.

Wizard of Oz

Dorothy lived in Kansas

Dorothy was taken to Oz

 

The Cat in the Hat

Mother left

Cat comes over

Cat made a mess

Cat will clean up

Cat will leave

 

Events that occur at the same time

Event #1

Event #2

Sample Sentence(s)

Vickie, born 1967

 

time of Vietnam War when her uncle was serving

Vickie was born in1968 while her uncle was serving in the war.

Sam brushes teeth after
supper (it is lunch time)

Mom does dishes after supper
(it is lunch time)

 

Yesterday's homework in Math was 10 word problems

Yesterday's homework in English was studying for a vocabulary quiz

 

Jack climbs the hill

Jill fetches water

 

Events that occur at different times

Event #1

Event #2

Sample Sentence(s)

When I was in kindergarten

Now I'm in high school

When I was in kindergarten, I believed in the tooth fairy. Now that I am in high school, I still do.

I used to be single

currently dating

 

At 10, moved to LA
(Now 18)

 

Age 20, move to MA

 

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