Use Simple Tenses

Try to use Simple Tenses Simple Present, Simple Past, and Simple Future instead of progressive tenses until and unless the continuous aspect of an action is not defined.

When a passage has more than one verb, the relation between the tenses of the verbs is called the sequence of tenses. Sentences with more than one action do not necessarily require multiple tenses. Unless, the action is not taking place at different times, use the same verb tenses in a given sentence.

I swim, dance, and jog every day. (all present tense)

I swam, danced, and jogged yesterday. (all paste tense)

In the following sentence, the actions are happening at different times. Hence, different verb tenses are used.

James had been working in the same company for almost three years before he found another job. (past perfect and past)

Now let's have a look at a sentence correction question:

Native American burial sites dating back 5 000 years indicate that the residents of Maine at that time were part of a widespread culture of Algonquian-speaking people.

(A) were part of a widespread culture of Algonquian-speaking people
(B) had been part of a widespread culture of people who were Algonquian-speaking
(C) were people who were part of a widespread culture that was Algonquian-speaking
(D) had been people who were part of a widespread culture that was Algonquian-speaking
(E) were a people which had been part of a widespread, Algonquian-speaking culture

The correct option is A. A very simple reason being that it correctly uses simple past throughout. No big deal.

Option B and D are unnecessarily using present perfect tense and in the process deviating from the original meaning of the sentence. Use of perfect tense suggests that the Native Americans had previously ceased to be part of the widespread culture. Wrong!

Option E is has a problem of inconsistent tenses- wereâ€¦.had been. Option C is wordy. Another error is in the meaning that it implies. People should describe as large groups to which residents belong and not the residents.

Don't use Perfect Tenses Imperfectly

The present perfect tense is used to describe action that began in the past and continues into the present or has just been completed at the moment of utterance. The present perfect is often used to suggest that a past action still has an effect upon something happening in the present.

The Thumb Rule for forming a sentence in Present Perfect is:

They have not submitted the assignments they ought to.

The above sentence maintains that the assignments have not been submitted in the past, and they are still not submitted.

The past perfect tense is used to refer to actions that took place, and were completed in the past. The past perfect is often used to emphasis that one action, event or condition ended before another past action, event, or condition began. The past participle of a verb ends with "ed", e.g. talked, walked, played. Verbs such as go, to be, etc. have different participles. Gone, been are the participle forms of go, and to be. If more than one action takes place at different times in past, past perfect for an earlier action and simple past for later action should be used.

The Thumb Rule for forming a sentence in Past Perfect is:

Each of the italicized verbs in the following sentences is in the past perfect.

Nirmesh thought that Rohit had copied the assignment.

The presentation had ended but we stayed for the lunch.

The future perfect is used to refer to an action that will be completed sometime in the future before another action takes place.

The Thumb Rule for forming a sentence in Future Perfect is:

The italicized part in the following sentences is in the future perfect tense.

I will have finished reading 5 books before the book fair starts.

Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were constructed in violation of the city's building code.

(A) Some buildings that were destroyed and heavily damaged in the earthquake last year were
(B) Some buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake last year had been
(C) Some buildings that the earthquake destroyed and heavily damaged last year have been
(D) Last year the earthquake destroyed or heavily damaged some buildings that have been
(E) Last year some of the buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged in the earthquake had been

If you read the main sentence carefully, the logic says that construction of the buildings was completed prior to the earthquake. Option A and C illogically state that some buildings were both destroyed and damaged. How is that possible? Also in option A fails to indicate that the buildings were constructed before the earthquake occurred. By using perfect tense in option C and D, the meaning incorrectly comes out that the buildings have been constructed after they were destroyed last year. Option E states that the construction of buildings occurred last year, and not the earthquake. Only option B maintains both the logic by using the correct tenses.