Verb Tense Consistency
What is verb tense?
There are lots of different tenses, but for now, let's stick with three simple ones: past, present, and future. The form of the verb you use lets readers know when the action happened. Did it happen in the past? Is it happening now? Will it happen tomorrow?
Examples!!!
Past: I kicked the ball.
Present: I kick the ball
Future: I will kick the ball.
Present: I kick the ball
Future: I will kick the ball.
So, what's the problem?
This is a really common rough draft issue: you start out writing in one verb tense, and as you get wrapped up in your storytelling, you switch tenses without realizing it. This is confusing for readers, because we don't know whether you are flashing back or whether you're just being sloppy.
Check this out: I woke up and looked around. The room was empty so I stand up and walk out. My mom is coming up the stairs and she said, "Hey!"
The verb tenses are all over the place in the sample above. It starts out in the past tense (woke, looked) but then switches to present (stand instead of stood). Then it randomly switches back to past (said).
The verb tenses are all over the place in the sample above. It starts out in the past tense (woke, looked) but then switches to present (stand instead of stood). Then it randomly switches back to past (said).
What do I do?
Make a choice. Decide if the story is in the past or in the present. And then make sure that all of your verbs (actions and states of being) align with that choice.