Know When To Use The Past With The Present

Skill

Know When To Use The Past With The Present

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One verb tense problem that is common both in student writing and on the TOEFL test is the switch from the past tense to the present tense for no particular reason. Often when a sentence has both a past tense and a present tense, the sentence is incorrect.

  • He took the money when he wants* it.

This sentence says that he took the money (in the past) when he wants it (in the past). This meaning does not make any sense; it is impossible to do something in the past as a result of something you want in the present. This sentence can be corrected in several ways, depending on the desired meaning.

  • He took the money when he wanted it.
  • He takes the money when he wants it.

The first example means that he took the money (in the past) when he wanted it (in the past). This meaning is logical, and the sentence is correct. The second example means that he takes the money (habitually) when he wants it (habitually). This meaning is also logical, and the second example is also correct.

It is necessary to point out, however, that it is possible for a logical sentence in English to have both the past and the present tense.

  • I know that he took the money yesterday.

The meaning of this sentence is logical: I know (right now, in the present) that he took the money (yesterday, in the past). You can see from this example that it is possible for an English sentence to have both the past and the present tense. The error you need to avoid is the switch from the past to the present for no particular reason. Therefore, when you see a sentence on the TOEFL test with both the past tense and the present tense, you must check the meaning of the sentence carefully to see if it is logical in English.

The following chart outlines the use of the past tense with the present tense in English:

  1. If you see a sentence with one verb in the past and one verb in the present, the sentence is probably incorrect.
  2. However, it is possible for a correct sentence to have both past and present together.
  3. If you see the past and present together, you must check the meaning to determine whether or not the sentence is correct.

Exercise

Complete the following exercises to reinforce what you’ve learned:

Each of the following sentences has at least one verb in the past and one verb in the present. Underline the verbs twice and decide if the meanings are logical. Then indicate if the sentences are correct (C) or incorrect (I).

  1. __I__ I tell him the truth when he asked me the question.
  2. __C__ I understand that you were angry.
  3. _____ When he was a child, he always goes to the circus.
  4. ___ Last semester he reads seven books and wrote five papers.
  5. ___ Steve wakes up early every morning because he went to work early.
  6. ___ Mark studied at the American University when he is in Washington, D.C.
  7. ___ He is telling the teacher why he did not have time to finish his homework.
  8. ___ He put some money in his account when he goes to the bank.
  9. ___ Tom is keeps studying hard because he intended to go to dental school.
  10. ___ She is where she is today because she worked hard when she was a student.

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