Fixing Verb Tense Shifts

• 5th grade
• CCSS L.5.1c
• CCSS L.5.1d

A verb tense shift happens when writing jumps from one time to another for no reason: "Yesterday I went to the park and I see a dog." Pick a tense and stay in it: "Yesterday I went to the park and I saw a dog."

What is a verb tense shift?

Verb tense tells the reader when. If a story starts in the past, every action that happens in that story should stay in the past. Switching to the present halfway through makes the reader wonder if time changed.

Not every change is wrong. Sometimes time really does change: "I lived in Ohio, but now I live in Texas." The mistake is an inappropriate shift, one that doesn't match what actually happened.

The 5th grade Common Core standards ask kids to use tense to show time and sequence (L.5.1c) and to fix inappropriate shifts (L.5.1d). This is one of the most common errors in 5th grade writing.

Shift or correct change?

The left column slips by mistake. The right column changes time on purpose.

Time words like now, yesterday, every day and next year signal a real change in time. No time word usually means no shift.

Fixed tense shifts

Each line shows a shift, then the fix. The fixed verb is highlighted.

1. I ran to the bus and I miss it. → I ran to the bus and I missed it.
2. Mom cooks dinner and set the table. → Mom cooks dinner and sets the table.
3. The dog barked and runs away. → The dog barked and ran away.
4. We will go to the zoo and saw lions. → We will go to the zoo and see lions.
5. Ava picked up the book and starts reading. → Ava picked up the book and started reading.
6. The wind blows and the trees shook. → The wind blows and the trees shake.
7. He opened the box and finds a puppy. → He opened the box and found a puppy.
8. They play outside until it got dark. → They play outside until it gets dark.
9. I wake up early and ate breakfast. → I wake up early and eat breakfast.
10. The team won and celebrates. → The team won and celebrated.

The fix always matches the first verb's tense, because nothing in the sentence says time changed.

The underline test

• Underline every verb in a paragraph.
• Label each one past, present or future.
• Look for a jump. If the label changes, ask: is there a time word that explains it? If not, fix the verb.
• Stories: most kids write stories in the past. How-tos and opinions: usually present.

How to teach verb tense shifts

Five short steps, about 10 minutes each.

1. Read aloud. Read a paragraph with one shift. Your child raises a hand when the time jumps.
2. Underline and label. Use the underline test on a short paragraph.
3. Rewrite a paragraph. Give a present-tense paragraph. Your child rewrites it in the past.
4. Justify a change. Write "I lived in Ohio. Now I live in Texas." Talk about why that change is fine.
5. Edit their own story. Your child checks their last story for shifts.

Common mistakes and how to fix them

Practice: verb tense shifts quiz

10 questions. Your child can tap the speaker to hear a question read aloud. The first try on each question counts toward the score.

1. 1.Fix it: I opened the door and see a cat.

   🔈
   saw sees
   Show answer

   I opened the door and saw a cat.

2. 2.Which sentence has a tense shift?

   🔈
   We went home and eat dinner. We went home and ate dinner.
   Show answer

   We went home and eat dinner.

3. 3.Fix it: The dog barks and ran.

   🔈
   runs running
   Show answer

   The dog barks and runs.

4. 4.Is this change in tense OK? I lived in Ohio, but now I live in Texas.

   🔈
   yes no
   Show answer

   Yes. The time really changes.

5. 5.Fix it: She picked up the phone and says hello.

   🔈
   said say
   Show answer

   She picked up the phone and said hello.

6. 6.Tap the verb that shifts.

   🔈

   We played outside until it gets dark.

   Show answer

   gets should be got.

7. 7.What tense do most stories use?

   🔈
   past future
   Show answer

   past.

8. 8.Tap the verb that shifts.

   🔈

   Leo jumps up and shouted.

   Show answer

   shouted should be shouts.

9. 9.What tense should a how-to use?

   🔈
   present past
   Show answer

   present: First you mix, then you pour.

10. 10.Which is correct?

    🔈
    The team won and celebrated. The team won and celebrates.
    Show answer

    The team won and celebrated.

Fixing Verb Tense Shifts worksheet (free PDF)

Fixing Verb Tense Shifts Worksheet, 5th grade

Find and fix tense shifts, decide which changes are OK, rewrite a paragraph in the past and edit your own writing. Prints on US Letter paper, with an answer key.

Download the PDF

Try it at home

• Underline test: underline verbs in your child's writing and label each tense.
• Story time: retell a movie in the past tense together.
• How-tos: explain a recipe in the present tense.
• Diary: write a short diary entry about yesterday.
• Read aloud: your child reads their writing aloud and listens for time jumps.

What comes next

Next, kids learn either/or and neither/nor. See all 5th grade skills on the 5th grade page, or browse all grammar lessons.

Last reviewed: November 11, 2026

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