Consistent Verb Tense

Consistent Verb Tense: Keep verb tense consistent throughout a piece of writing. Avoid shifting from one verb tense to another unless there is a good reason for the tense shift.

Do not shift from past to present without cause:

As we worked on the presentation, Joe tells an amusing anecdote.

Correct:

As we worked on the presentation, Joe told an amusing anecdote.

(Now the tense is consistent in the past).

Do not shift from present to past without cause:

Coco and Joe walked to the library.  When they arrive, she mentioned to him that she was changing her major.

Correct:

Coco and Joe walk to the library.  When they arrive, she mentions that she is changing her major.

Do not shift from future to past without cause:

Incorrect:

By the time Sara turns eighteen, she learned that money management is important.

Correct:

By the time Sara turns eighteen, she will learn that money management is important.

Stay consistent with the chronological cues you provide:

Inconsistent:

Twenty years from now, Carlo and his brothers are successful developers.  Just yesterday, I see them driving in a nice truck.  You should see the way everyone looks at them at the grocery store.

Consistent:

Twenty years from now, Carlo and his brothers will be successful developers.  Just yesterday, I saw them driving in a nice truck.  You should see the way everyone looked at them at the grocery store.

Inconsistent:

We learned how, back in 1975, gentrification is changing the neighborhood.

Consistent:

We learned how, back in 1975, gentrification changed the neighborhood.

The MLCKRB (Master List Code Key and Rule Book): An English Grammar & Style Handbook by Jared Aragona, CC BY 4.0