College Composition / Unit 4 CMP 0089 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Shifting Tense for a Real Change in Time
Captions available
The idea
A writer may shift tense for an actual change in time, but the governing tense stays constant.
In practice
"She now works in Denver, but she grew up in Ohio" shifts correctly, because the two actions happen at different times.
Where people slip
A shift is an error only when the time has not changed.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
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