Tense Shifts and Control
Tense shifts and control means using verb tenses consistently within a piece of writing, only changing tense for a clear purpose, such as a flashback, rather than by accident. It is assessed as part of technical accuracy in GCSE English Language writing. Poor tense control confuses the reader about when events happen, while controlled shifts can create specific effects.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Decide on a main tense for the whole piece, usually past tense for narrative, before starting to write.
- Check every verb in a paragraph agrees with the chosen main tense unless deliberately shifting.
- Use the past perfect, such as 'had walked', to show an event happened before the main timeline, for example in a flashback.
- Switch briefly to present tense only for a clear effect, such as making a climactic moment feel immediate.
- Signal any tense shift clearly with a time marker or paragraph break so the reader is not confused.
- Proofread by tracking each verb's tense line by line to catch accidental slips.
Worked example
Correct the accidental tense shift in this sentence: 'She walked into the room and sees a figure standing by the window.'
- Identify the main tense of the sentence: past tense, shown by 'walked'.
- Find the verb that breaks this pattern: 'sees', which is present tense.
- Change 'sees' to match the past tense established by 'walked'.
- This gives the final corrected sentence: 'She walked into the room and saw a figure standing by the window.'
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a English exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Correct the tense errors in this extract and explain one correction: 'The old man sat by the fire. He remembers the war and feels a deep sadness.'
Write a short paragraph of two to three sentences in the past tense that includes one deliberate, clearly signalled shift to present tense for dramatic effect.
Identify the tense error in this sentence and correct it: 'By the end of the match, the crowd cheers wildly.'
Free printable worksheet
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