CHAPTER 15 CONSISTENCY

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Consistency: Making Verb Tenses Consistent

Application 5

Instructions

Read aloud the example paragraph about the astronauts, which is repeated below. Listen for verbs. Then answer the questions in the spaces below.

Once the astronauts were in orbit, they relaxed. They had not been given a moment to think their own thoughts for several hours, and they needed a chance to sit back and to absorb what was happening to them. Below them the Pacific Ocean edged into view. Above them the moon looked as distant as ever. We like to cover every detail of these space ventures in the news, but most of us will never know what goes on in the minds of people who are beyond the pull of their own world's gravity. What we do know is that finally the astronauts ate their rations quietly and slept.
What is the dominant tense of this passage?
(choose from the following: simple past, simple past, simple future)



Eight verbs are not in the dominant tense, each with a good reason. The reasons are listed below. For each reason, find the verb or verbs that fit:
(past perfect tense, to show an action or state that took place before the dominant time:)
HINT: One verb only



(past progressive tense, to show an action or state that was continuing during the dominant time)
HINT: One verb only



(simple future tense, to show an action or state that is anticipated in the future:)
HINT: One verb only



(simple present tense, to show an action or state that is true at the time of the paragraph's composition, or to show an action or state that is always true:)
HINT: Five verbs; separate them with a comma

Application 5
Instructions Read aloud the example paragraph about the astronauts, which is repeated below. Listen for verbs. Then answer the questions in the spaces below. Once the astronauts were in orbit, they relaxed. They had not been given a moment to think their own thoughts for several hours, and they needed a chance to sit back and to absorb what was happening to them. Below them the Pacific Ocean edged into view. Above them the moon looked as distant as ever. We like to cover every detail of these space ventures in the news, but most of us will never know what goes on in the minds of people who are beyond the pull of their own world's gravity. What we do know is that finally the astronauts ate their rations quietly and slept. What is the dominant tense of this passage? (choose from the following: simple past, simple past, simple future)

Eight verbs are not in the dominant tense, each with a good reason. The reasons are listed below. For each reason, find the verb or verbs that fit: (past perfect tense, to show an action or state that took place before the dominant time:) HINT: One verb only

(past progressive tense, to show an action or state that was continuing during the dominant time) HINT: One verb only

(simple future tense, to show an action or state that is anticipated in the future:) HINT: One verb only

(simple present tense, to show an action or state that is true at the time of the paragraph's composition, or to show an action or state that is always true:) HINT: Five verbs; separate them with a comma