Verb tense questions test whether you can maintain consistency and choose the correct tense based on time signals.
Core Rules
Consistency
Don't shift tenses without reason.
- ✗ "He walked to the store and buys milk."
- ✓ "He walked to the store and bought milk."
Tense Uses
| Tense | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple present | Facts, habits | She runs daily. |
| Simple past | Completed actions | She ran yesterday. |
| Present perfect | Past → present relevance | She has run 5 miles today. |
| Past perfect | Earlier of two past events | She had run before it rained. |
Past Perfect
Use for the earlier of two past events. "By the time he arrived, she had left." (She left first.)
Time Signals
Yesterday → past. Since → present perfect. By next year → future perfect.
ACT Tips
- Check surrounding sentences for the established tense.
- Past perfect is rarely needed — only for the earlier of two past events.
- Don't overcorrect: some tense shifts are appropriate.
Practice Problems
- "She (has studied / studied) French for three years before moving to Paris."
- "The team (wins / won) the championship last year and (celebrates / celebrated) all night."
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Key Takeaways
Maintain consistency unless there's a reason to shift.
Past perfect for the earlier of two past events.
Look at time signals and surrounding context.