Page 853 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing
P. 853
verb + -s
⇨ Happens in the future perfect By the time you join me
future but before will have on the track, I will have
another future event + ed verb form walked at least two miles.
⇨⇨ Happens at some future I will walk with you
time in the future will + base tomorrow if we both
verb have time.
Avoiding Unnecessary Tense
Shifts
With so many ways of designating time, it is easy to make mistakes.
The most common error in verb tense is an unnecessary shift from
past tense to present tense. A writer may become so caught up in
describing a past event that it becomes, at least temporarily, a part of
“the now.” Look at the following examples to see the difference
between a necessary shift and an unnecessary shift in verb tense.
Examples of Necessary and Unnecessary
Tense Shifts
