Page 875 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

5. When Jack got to the veterinarian’s office with Prince, he

realized he left the dog’s urine sample in the refrigerator at

home.

The problem in this sentence is

a. a shift in voice
b. a shift between past and present tense

c. a past tense verb that needs to be further in the past

(past perfect)

Review Exercise 21-3 Correcting

Problems in Tense and Voice

Correct the voice or tense problem in each sentence.

1. The waitress asked us if we ate here before.

2. We were almost done sorting the silverware when the drawer

falls off its tracks and its contents spill across the floor.

3. The wind was blowing the leaves everywhere, so John decides
to rake tomorrow.