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Editing, Grammar and Accuracy
Quick questions on Tenses and time references explained: O-Level English
7short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is match the tense to the time?Show answer
The basic move is to match the verb to when the action happens:
What is keep tense consistent?Show answer
Once you choose a main tense for a passage, stay in it unless there is a reason to change. A story told in the past should not slip into the present: "He opened the door and walks inside" is wrong; it should be "walked inside". This drift between past and present is the single most common tense error in extended writing, and the Editing task plants it deliberately. Decide your main tense, then keep every verb in it unless the meaning genuinely calls for a different time.
What is editing for tense?Show answer
When editing, first work out the main tense of the passage from its time signals. Then read verb by verb, checking each one fits that tense or has a clear reason not to. Pay special attention to sentences with two actions (which may need a perfect tense for sequence) and to any verb that suddenly jumps to a different time from the verbs around it.
What is present perfect with a finished time?Show answer
"I have finished an hour ago" is wrong; a finished time ("an hour ago") needs the simple past: "I finished an hour ago".
What is q1?Show answer
Correct this sentence: "Last night she watch a film and goes to bed early." [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Explain when to use the past perfect, with an example. [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain how to check a story for unintended tense shifts. [2 marks]
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