{"id":54,"date":"2021-03-02T15:46:27","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T15:46:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/chapter\/verb-tense\/"},"modified":"2025-07-17T21:19:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T21:19:15","slug":"verb-tense","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/chapter\/verb-tense\/","title":{"raw":"Verb Tense","rendered":"Verb Tense"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nBy the end of this chapter, you should be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Identify the purpose of verbs.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Explain why maintaining a consistent verb tense is important.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Explain how using the active voice and avoiding nominalizations can make your writing more direct.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAll starting writers struggle with [pb_glossary id=\"240\"]verb tenses[\/pb_glossary]. More specifically, they struggle to keep the tenses consistent, especially in long documents.\r\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_n01\" class=\"im_learning_objectives im_editable im_block\">\r\n\r\nIf you've ever received feedback from a professor, such as \"inconsistent tense\" or \"passive voice,\" then it generally means something is wrong with your verbs. Fixing this issue is important because keeping <strong>verb tenses<\/strong> consistent will ensure your audience knows whether an event happened in the past, present, or future.\r\n\r\nIn this chapter, we will briefly review [pb_glossary id=\"190\"]verbs[\/pb_glossary], discuss different <strong>verb tenses<\/strong>, and finish off by discussing how to avoid the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"241\"]passive voice[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> and <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"242\"]nominalizations[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>The Basics<\/h2>\r\nVerbs do two things. First, they are the action of the sentence. They tell the reader what action you, someone, or something did.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: left;\">I <span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">walked<\/span> to the store.<\/div>\r\nIn the above example, the verb \"walked\" tells the reader what kind of action brought you to the store. We know the person didn't run, skip, or saunter to the store; they walked.\r\n\r\nThe second thing verbs do is tell the audience\u00a0<em>when <\/em>something happened. This is where <strong>verb tenses<\/strong> come in. In the same example, \"walked\" is in the past tense, so we know the event occurred in the past. There are three main tenses: present, past, and future. However, within those three tenses are several more.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"18\"]\r\n\r\nThat is a lot of <strong>verb tenses<\/strong>, but thankfully, you will not have to use all of them in professional communication. In fact, you will mostly be using [pb_glossary id=\"243\"]simple present[\/pb_glossary], [pb_glossary id=\"244\"]simple past[\/pb_glossary] and [pb_glossary id=\"245\"]simple future[\/pb_glossary]. The issue that most people run into is being <em>consistent<\/em> with their verb tenses.\r\n<h2>Maintaining Consistent Verb Tense<\/h2>\r\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\r\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n\r\n<span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Consistent <strong>verb tense<\/strong><\/span><\/span> means the same verb tense is used throughout a sentence or a paragraph. As you write and revise, make sure you use the same <strong>verb tense<\/strong> consistently and avoid shifting from one tense to another unless there is a good reason for it.\r\n\r\nLet's look at an example. In the following box, can you see how the tense is inconsistent?\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: left;\">We will submit the report after I finished my section.<\/div>\r\nTwo different verb tenses are being used here: <strong>simple future<\/strong> (will submit) and <strong>simple past<\/strong> (finished). Let's fix this problem by keeping the tenses consistent.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Simple Future<\/strong>: We will submit the report after I finish my section\r\n<strong>Simple Past<\/strong>: We submitted the report after I finished my section<\/div>\r\nAs you can see, there are two ways to fix this program. While both are now grammatically correct, the one you use will depend on what information you are trying to convey.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #1: Pick the Inconsistent Verb Tense<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nRead the sentences below. Pick the one that uses inconsistent verb tense.\r\n<div class=\"postbox h5p-sidebar\">\r\n<div class=\"h5p-action-bar-settings h5p-panel\"><code>[h5p id=\"19\"]<\/code><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nNow, in some cases, clear communication will call for different tenses. Look at the following example:\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: left;\">When I was a teenager, I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to be a firefighter, but now I\u00a0am studying\u00a0computer science.<\/div>\r\nIn the above example, the writer talks about a past desire and their present situation. Whenever the time frame for each action or state is different, a tense shift is appropriate.\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #2: Identify the Incorrect Verb Choice<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nRead the email below for incorrect verb tenses. Click all the verbs that use the wrong tense.\r\n<div class=\"postbox h5p-sidebar\">\r\n<div class=\"h5p-action-bar-settings h5p-panel\"><code>[h5p id=\"20\"]<\/code><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\r\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03_n03\" class=\"im_callout im_block\">\r\n\r\nThe inconsistent tense in the e-mail will very likely distract the reader from its overall point. In the professional world,\u00a0 your coworkers will most likely not correct your <strong>verb tenses<\/strong> or call attention to grammatical errors. Still, it is essential to remember that these errors do have a subtle negative impact in the workplace, just as they do when applying for jobs and communicating with clients. If you keep making small mistakes like this, the receiver of your message may assume you ignore little details.\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2>Simplifying Verbs<\/h2>\r\nAnother issue that writers have is overcomplicating their verbs with extra words. In almost every instance, if you realize you can simplify your writing by taking out words, that is the best option. In regards to verbs, the issue typically stems from writers using [pb_glossary id=\"241\"]passive voice[\/pb_glossary] and [pb_glossary id=\"242\"]nominalizations[\/pb_glossary] in their writing.\r\n<h2>Active Voice and Passive Voice<\/h2>\r\nEven with consistent verb tenses, writers often overcomplicate their writing by expressing the action in as many words as possible. One way they do this is by using the <strong>passive voice<\/strong>. Consider the following sentences, for instance. Which would you prefer to read?\r\n<table class=\" aligncenter\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>PASSIVE VOICE<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe candidate cannot\u00a0<strong>be supported by<\/strong>\u00a0our membership.<\/td>\r\n<td><strong>ACTIVE VOICE<\/strong>\r\n\r\nOur members cannot\u00a0<strong>support<\/strong>\u00a0the candidate.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nMost readers would prefer the second option. Why? Here, the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"246\"]active voice[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> construction on the right uses two fewer words to say the same thing. As a result, it is more direct than the<strong> passive voice<\/strong> construction. How does it do that?\r\n\r\nFirst, let's define the two terms.\u00a0<span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><strong>The active voice\u00a0<\/strong>is a sentence structure in which the subject carries out the action,\u00a0<strong>while the passive voice<\/strong> is a sentence structure in which<\/span>\u00a0the subject <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">receives<\/span> the action.\r\n\r\nEssentially, it all comes down to the [pb_glossary id=\"188\"]subject [\/pb_glossary] and [pb_glossary id=\"190\"]verb[\/pb_glossary]. Who is the subject of the <strong>passive voice<\/strong> sentence? It's not \"the candidate\" because they do not do the sentence's action. The subject is \"our membership\"\u00a0 because they provide support.\r\n\r\nIn the <strong>active voice<\/strong> sentence, \"members\" has been moved to the start of the sentence. They are doing the action.\r\n\r\nBoth sentences are valid grammatically. You could use either format in your writing, and the reader would understand what you are saying. However, the <strong>active voice<\/strong> is generally better since active sentences tend to be shorter, more precise, and easier to understand.\r\n\r\nThere are legitimate uses of the <strong>passive voice, though. When you want to deemphasize the action's doer, the<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>passive voice<\/strong> is a good choice. Look at the example below.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Ten late arrivals were recorded this month<\/div>\r\nIn this example, the <strong>passive voice<\/strong> above doesn\u2019t place blame or credit so that it can be more diplomatic in some contexts. <strong>Passive voice<\/strong> also allows the writer to avoid personal references or personal pronouns (he, she, they) to create a more objective tone. Additionally, there are situations where the doer of the action is unknown, as in the following example.\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Graffiti was painted on the side of our building last night.<\/div>\r\nWe don't know who created the graffiti, so a passive form is valid here.\r\n\r\nHowever, keep in mind that overusing the<strong> passive voice<\/strong> sounds unnatural and appears as an attempt to extend the word count or sound more fancy and objective. Most readers prefer the <strong>active voice<\/strong> because the <strong>passive<\/strong> <strong>voice<\/strong> is either more wordy or vague. Nevertheless, it is essential to consider what is conventional in the writing you\u2019re engaging in\u2014for instance. Specific disciplines require that lab reports use the <strong>passive voice<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<h2>Nominalization<\/h2>\r\nAnother issue that overcomplicates writing is when writers turn the main action they describe into nouns, a process called <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"242\"]nominalization[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>. This involves taking a verb and adding a suffix such as\u00a0<em>-ant, -ent, -ion, -tion, -sion, -ence, -ance,<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0<em>-ing<\/em>, as well as adding forms of other verbs, such as \"to make\" or \"to give.\" <strong>Nominalization<\/strong> may also require articles (<em>the<\/em>,\u00a0<em>a<\/em>, or\u00a0<em>an<\/em>) before the action nouns. Consider the following comparisons of nominalized-verb sentences with simplified verb forms:\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><strong>NOMINALIZED FORM<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe committee\u00a0<strong>had a\u00a0discussion<\/strong>\u00a0about the new budget constraints.<\/td>\r\n<td><strong>SIMPLIFIED FORM<\/strong>\r\n\r\nThe committee\u00a0<strong>discussed<\/strong>\u00a0the new budget constraints.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>We\u00a0<strong>will make a\u00a0recommendation<\/strong>\u00a0to proceed with the investment option.<\/td>\r\n<td>We will\u00a0<strong>recommend<\/strong>\u00a0proceeding with the investment option.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>They\u00a0<strong>handed down a\u00a0judgment<\/strong>\u00a0that the offer wasn\u2019t worth their time.<\/td>\r\n<td>They\u00a0<strong>judged<\/strong>\u00a0that the offer wasn\u2019t worth their time.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>The regulator will\u00a0<strong>grant\u00a0<\/strong><strong>approval<\/strong><strong>\u00a0of<\/strong>\u00a0the new process within the week.<\/td>\r\n<td>The regulator will\u00a0<strong>approve<\/strong>\u00a0the new process within the week.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>He always\u00a0<strong>gives me\u00a0advice<\/strong>\u00a0on what to say to the media.<\/td>\r\n<td>He always\u00a0<strong>advises<\/strong>\u00a0me on what to say to the media.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>She\u2019s\u00a0<strong>giving<\/strong>\u00a0your application\u00a0<strong>a\u00a0pass<\/strong>\u00a0because of all the errors in it.<\/td>\r\n<td>She\u2019s\u00a0<strong>passing<\/strong>\u00a0on your application because of all the errors in it.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nYou can tell that the simplified sentences have a greater impact than those that use <strong>nominalizations<\/strong>. In all the <strong>nominalization<\/strong> examples, more words are required to say the same thing. When writing contains all three issues we've discussed (inconsistent verb tense, passive voice, and nominalizations), it becomes muddled and lacks the clarity expected in professional writing.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #3: Identify the Verb Issue and Simplify<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nRead the sentences below. Determine whether there is an issue with the passive voice or nominalizations. Then, try to simplify the sentence. Please note that our solution is just one possible solution. If yours doesn't match, it could still be correct. Check with your instructor if you're not sure.\r\n<div class=\"postbox h5p-sidebar\">\r\n<div class=\"h5p-action-bar-settings h5p-panel\"><code>[h5p id=\"21\"]<\/code><\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Key Takeaways<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03_n04\" class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\">\r\n<ul id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist\">\r\n \t<li><strong>[pb_glossary id=\"240\"]Verb tense[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> helps you express when an event takes place.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Maintaining consistency among <strong>verb tenses <\/strong>in your writing will ensure clear communication. While there are twelve different tenses in English, the three you will be using the most are [pb_glossary id=\"243\"]simple present[\/pb_glossary], [pb_glossary id=\"244\"]simple past[\/pb_glossary], and [pb_glossary id=\"245\"]simple future[\/pb_glossary].<\/li>\r\n \t<li>A more direct style of writing is almost always preferable. Therefore, it is often best to avoid the <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"241\"]passive voice[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> and <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"242\"]nominalizations[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03_n04\" class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\">\r\n\r\nNow that you are finished, you can either click on one of the other sentence-level issues to learn about it or continue to the next part of the chapter on quoting.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\r\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03\" class=\"im_section\">\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Go To Another Topic<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/rcm300\/chapter\/sentence-fragments\/\">Sentence Fragments<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/rcm300\/chapter\/run-on-sentences\/\">Run-On Sentences<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/rcm300\/chapter\/punctuation\/\">Punctuation<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/rcm300\/chapter\/eliminating-wordiness\/\">Eliminating Wordiness<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\">References<\/h2>\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nGrammarly. (2021, January 14).\u00a0<em>Verb tenses<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grammarly.com\/blog\/verb-tenses\/\">https:\/\/www.grammarly.com\/blog\/verb-tenses\/<\/a>\r\n<h2>Attributions<\/h2>\r\nThis chapter is adapted from <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/fashbuscomm\/chapter\/5-1-substantial-revisions\/\">Business Communications for Fashion<\/a> by Anna Cappuccitti (on <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/\">openpress.usask.ca<\/a>). It is licensed under a <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License<\/a>.\r\n\r\nThis chapter is also adapted from <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/businesscommforsuccess\/chapter\/6-2-writing-style\/\">Business Communication for Success<\/a> by the University of Minnesota (on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lib.umn.edu\/services\/publishing\">University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing)<\/a>. It is licensed under a <a href=\"Creative%20Commons%20Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike%204.0%20International%20License\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify the purpose of verbs.<\/li>\n<li>Explain why maintaining a consistent verb tense is important.<\/li>\n<li>Explain how using the active voice and avoiding nominalizations can make your writing more direct.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>All starting writers struggle with <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_240\">verb tenses<\/a>. More specifically, they struggle to keep the tenses consistent, especially in long documents.<\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_n01\" class=\"im_learning_objectives im_editable im_block\">\n<p>If you&#8217;ve ever received feedback from a professor, such as &#8220;inconsistent tense&#8221; or &#8220;passive voice,&#8221; then it generally means something is wrong with your verbs. Fixing this issue is important because keeping <strong>verb tenses<\/strong> consistent will ensure your audience knows whether an event happened in the past, present, or future.<\/p>\n<p>In this chapter, we will briefly review <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_190\">verbs<\/a>, discuss different <strong>verb tenses<\/strong>, and finish off by discussing how to avoid the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_241\">passive voice<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_242\">nominalizations<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>The Basics<\/h2>\n<p>Verbs do two things. First, they are the action of the sentence. They tell the reader what action you, someone, or something did.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: left;\">I <span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">walked<\/span> to the store.<\/div>\n<p>In the above example, the verb &#8220;walked&#8221; tells the reader what kind of action brought you to the store. We know the person didn&#8217;t run, skip, or saunter to the store; they walked.<\/p>\n<p>The second thing verbs do is tell the audience\u00a0<em>when <\/em>something happened. This is where <strong>verb tenses<\/strong> come in. In the same example, &#8220;walked&#8221; is in the past tense, so we know the event occurred in the past. There are three main tenses: present, past, and future. However, within those three tenses are several more.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"h5p-18\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-18\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"18\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"How Many Verb Tenses?\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>That is a lot of <strong>verb tenses<\/strong>, but thankfully, you will not have to use all of them in professional communication. In fact, you will mostly be using <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_243\">simple present<\/a>, <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_244\">simple past<\/a> and <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_245\">simple future<\/a>. The issue that most people run into is being <em>consistent<\/em> with their verb tenses.<\/p>\n<h2>Maintaining Consistent Verb Tense<\/h2>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03\" class=\"im_section\">\n<p><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Consistent <strong>verb tense<\/strong><\/span><\/span> means the same verb tense is used throughout a sentence or a paragraph. As you write and revise, make sure you use the same <strong>verb tense<\/strong> consistently and avoid shifting from one tense to another unless there is a good reason for it.<\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s look at an example. In the following box, can you see how the tense is inconsistent?<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: left;\">We will submit the report after I finished my section.<\/div>\n<p>Two different verb tenses are being used here: <strong>simple future<\/strong> (will submit) and <strong>simple past<\/strong> (finished). Let&#8217;s fix this problem by keeping the tenses consistent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Simple Future<\/strong>: We will submit the report after I finish my section<br \/>\n<strong>Simple Past<\/strong>: We submitted the report after I finished my section<\/div>\n<p>As you can see, there are two ways to fix this program. While both are now grammatically correct, the one you use will depend on what information you are trying to convey.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #1: Pick the Inconsistent Verb Tense<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Read the sentences below. Pick the one that uses inconsistent verb tense.<\/p>\n<div class=\"postbox h5p-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"h5p-action-bar-settings h5p-panel\"><code><\/p>\n<div id=\"h5p-19\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-19\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"19\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Inconsistent Verb Tense MC\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/code><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Now, in some cases, clear communication will call for different tenses. Look at the following example:<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: left;\">When I was a teenager, I\u00a0wanted\u00a0to be a firefighter, but now I\u00a0am studying\u00a0computer science.<\/div>\n<p>In the above example, the writer talks about a past desire and their present situation. Whenever the time frame for each action or state is different, a tense shift is appropriate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #2: Identify the Incorrect Verb Choice<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Read the email below for incorrect verb tenses. Click all the verbs that use the wrong tense.<\/p>\n<div class=\"postbox h5p-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"h5p-action-bar-settings h5p-panel\"><code><\/p>\n<div id=\"h5p-20\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-20\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"20\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Inconsistent Verb Tense MTW\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/code><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03_n03\" class=\"im_callout im_block\">\n<p>The inconsistent tense in the e-mail will very likely distract the reader from its overall point. In the professional world,\u00a0 your coworkers will most likely not correct your <strong>verb tenses<\/strong> or call attention to grammatical errors. Still, it is essential to remember that these errors do have a subtle negative impact in the workplace, just as they do when applying for jobs and communicating with clients. If you keep making small mistakes like this, the receiver of your message may assume you ignore little details.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Simplifying Verbs<\/h2>\n<p>Another issue that writers have is overcomplicating their verbs with extra words. In almost every instance, if you realize you can simplify your writing by taking out words, that is the best option. In regards to verbs, the issue typically stems from writers using <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_241\">passive voice<\/a> and <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_242\">nominalizations<\/a> in their writing.<\/p>\n<h2>Active Voice and Passive Voice<\/h2>\n<p>Even with consistent verb tenses, writers often overcomplicate their writing by expressing the action in as many words as possible. One way they do this is by using the <strong>passive voice<\/strong>. Consider the following sentences, for instance. Which would you prefer to read?<\/p>\n<table class=\"aligncenter\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>PASSIVE VOICE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The candidate cannot\u00a0<strong>be supported by<\/strong>\u00a0our membership.<\/td>\n<td><strong>ACTIVE VOICE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Our members cannot\u00a0<strong>support<\/strong>\u00a0the candidate.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Most readers would prefer the second option. Why? Here, the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_246\">active voice<\/a><\/strong> construction on the right uses two fewer words to say the same thing. As a result, it is more direct than the<strong> passive voice<\/strong> construction. How does it do that?<\/p>\n<p>First, let&#8217;s define the two terms.\u00a0<span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><strong>The active voice\u00a0<\/strong>is a sentence structure in which the subject carries out the action,\u00a0<strong>while the passive voice<\/strong> is a sentence structure in which<\/span>\u00a0the subject <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">receives<\/span> the action.<\/p>\n<p>Essentially, it all comes down to the <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_188\">subject <\/a> and <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_190\">verb<\/a>. Who is the subject of the <strong>passive voice<\/strong> sentence? It&#8217;s not &#8220;the candidate&#8221; because they do not do the sentence&#8217;s action. The subject is &#8220;our membership&#8221;\u00a0 because they provide support.<\/p>\n<p>In the <strong>active voice<\/strong> sentence, &#8220;members&#8221; has been moved to the start of the sentence. They are doing the action.<\/p>\n<p>Both sentences are valid grammatically. You could use either format in your writing, and the reader would understand what you are saying. However, the <strong>active voice<\/strong> is generally better since active sentences tend to be shorter, more precise, and easier to understand.<\/p>\n<p>There are legitimate uses of the <strong>passive voice, though. When you want to deemphasize the action&#8217;s doer, the<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>passive voice<\/strong> is a good choice. Look at the example below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Ten late arrivals were recorded this month<\/div>\n<p>In this example, the <strong>passive voice<\/strong> above doesn\u2019t place blame or credit so that it can be more diplomatic in some contexts. <strong>Passive voice<\/strong> also allows the writer to avoid personal references or personal pronouns (he, she, they) to create a more objective tone. Additionally, there are situations where the doer of the action is unknown, as in the following example.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\" style=\"text-align: center;\">Graffiti was painted on the side of our building last night.<\/div>\n<p>We don&#8217;t know who created the graffiti, so a passive form is valid here.<\/p>\n<p>However, keep in mind that overusing the<strong> passive voice<\/strong> sounds unnatural and appears as an attempt to extend the word count or sound more fancy and objective. Most readers prefer the <strong>active voice<\/strong> because the <strong>passive<\/strong> <strong>voice<\/strong> is either more wordy or vague. Nevertheless, it is essential to consider what is conventional in the writing you\u2019re engaging in\u2014for instance. Specific disciplines require that lab reports use the <strong>passive voice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Nominalization<\/h2>\n<p>Another issue that overcomplicates writing is when writers turn the main action they describe into nouns, a process called <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_242\">nominalization<\/a><\/strong>. This involves taking a verb and adding a suffix such as\u00a0<em>-ant, -ent, -ion, -tion, -sion, -ence, -ance,<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0<em>-ing<\/em>, as well as adding forms of other verbs, such as &#8220;to make&#8221; or &#8220;to give.&#8221; <strong>Nominalization<\/strong> may also require articles (<em>the<\/em>,\u00a0<em>a<\/em>, or\u00a0<em>an<\/em>) before the action nouns. Consider the following comparisons of nominalized-verb sentences with simplified verb forms:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>NOMINALIZED FORM<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The committee\u00a0<strong>had a\u00a0discussion<\/strong>\u00a0about the new budget constraints.<\/td>\n<td><strong>SIMPLIFIED FORM<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The committee\u00a0<strong>discussed<\/strong>\u00a0the new budget constraints.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>We\u00a0<strong>will make a\u00a0recommendation<\/strong>\u00a0to proceed with the investment option.<\/td>\n<td>We will\u00a0<strong>recommend<\/strong>\u00a0proceeding with the investment option.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>They\u00a0<strong>handed down a\u00a0judgment<\/strong>\u00a0that the offer wasn\u2019t worth their time.<\/td>\n<td>They\u00a0<strong>judged<\/strong>\u00a0that the offer wasn\u2019t worth their time.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>The regulator will\u00a0<strong>grant\u00a0<\/strong><strong>approval<\/strong><strong>\u00a0of<\/strong>\u00a0the new process within the week.<\/td>\n<td>The regulator will\u00a0<strong>approve<\/strong>\u00a0the new process within the week.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>He always\u00a0<strong>gives me\u00a0advice<\/strong>\u00a0on what to say to the media.<\/td>\n<td>He always\u00a0<strong>advises<\/strong>\u00a0me on what to say to the media.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>She\u2019s\u00a0<strong>giving<\/strong>\u00a0your application\u00a0<strong>a\u00a0pass<\/strong>\u00a0because of all the errors in it.<\/td>\n<td>She\u2019s\u00a0<strong>passing<\/strong>\u00a0on your application because of all the errors in it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>You can tell that the simplified sentences have a greater impact than those that use <strong>nominalizations<\/strong>. In all the <strong>nominalization<\/strong> examples, more words are required to say the same thing. When writing contains all three issues we&#8217;ve discussed (inconsistent verb tense, passive voice, and nominalizations), it becomes muddled and lacks the clarity expected in professional writing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #3: Identify the Verb Issue and Simplify<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Read the sentences below. Determine whether there is an issue with the passive voice or nominalizations. Then, try to simplify the sentence. Please note that our solution is just one possible solution. If yours doesn&#8217;t match, it could still be correct. Check with your instructor if you&#8217;re not sure.<\/p>\n<div class=\"postbox h5p-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"h5p-action-bar-settings h5p-panel\"><code><\/p>\n<div id=\"h5p-21\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-21\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"21\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Identify the Verb Issue and Simplify\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/code><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Key Takeaways<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<div id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03_n04\" class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\">\n<ul id=\"mcleanbuseng-ch01_s03_s03_l01\" class=\"im_itemizedlist\">\n<li><strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_240\">Verb tense<\/a><\/strong> helps you express when an event takes place.<\/li>\n<li>Maintaining consistency among <strong>verb tenses <\/strong>in your writing will ensure clear communication. While there are twelve different tenses in English, the three you will be using the most are <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_243\">simple present<\/a>, <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_244\">simple past<\/a>, and <a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_245\">simple future<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>A more direct style of writing is almost always preferable. Therefore, it is often best to avoid the <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_241\">passive voice<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_54_242\">nominalizations<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\">\n<p>Now that you are finished, you can either click on one of the other sentence-level issues to learn about it or continue to the next part of the chapter on quoting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Go To Another Topic<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/rcm300\/chapter\/sentence-fragments\/\">Sentence Fragments<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/rcm300\/chapter\/run-on-sentences\/\">Run-On Sentences<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/rcm300\/chapter\/punctuation\/\">Punctuation<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/rcm300\/chapter\/eliminating-wordiness\/\">Eliminating Wordiness<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<h2 class=\"textbox__title\">References<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Grammarly. (2021, January 14).\u00a0<em>Verb tenses<\/em>. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.grammarly.com\/blog\/verb-tenses\/\">https:\/\/www.grammarly.com\/blog\/verb-tenses\/<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Attributions<\/h2>\n<p>This chapter is adapted from <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/fashbuscomm\/chapter\/5-1-substantial-revisions\/\">Business Communications for Fashion<\/a> by Anna Cappuccitti (on <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/\">openpress.usask.ca<\/a>). It is licensed under a <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>This chapter is also adapted from <a href=\"https:\/\/openpress.usask.ca\/businesscommforsuccess\/chapter\/6-2-writing-style\/\">Business Communication for Success<\/a> by the University of Minnesota (on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lib.umn.edu\/services\/publishing\">University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing)<\/a>. It is licensed under a <a href=\"Creative%20Commons%20Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike%204.0%20International%20License\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_54_240\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_54_240\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>grammatical ways of altering verbs to show when a person does something, or when something existed or happened<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_54_190\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_54_190\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>a word that conveys the action or state of being in a sentence<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_54_241\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_54_241\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>a sentence structure where the subject of a sentence receives an action instead of doing it<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_54_242\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_54_242\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>an issue where the main action (a verb) is turned into a noun which overcomplicates the writing<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_54_243\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_54_243\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>a verb tense that is used show an action is happening right now or that it happens regularly<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_54_244\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_54_244\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>a verb tense that is used to talk about things that happened or existed before now<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_54_245\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_54_245\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>a verb tense that is used to talk about things that haven't happened yet<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_54_246\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_54_246\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>a sentence structure where the subject carries out the action<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_54_188\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_54_188\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the topic being discussed in a clause or sentence<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":101,"menu_order":5,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-54","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":43,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/54","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/54\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2811,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/54\/revisions\/2811"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/43"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/54\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=54"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=54"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=54"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}