Verb tense tells the reader when an action occurs. The Digital SAT tests whether you can choose the correct tense and maintain consistency within a passage.
Core Concepts
The Six Main Tenses
| Tense | Example | When |
|---|---|---|
| Simple present | She writes | Habits, facts, current states |
| Simple past | She wrote | Completed actions |
| Simple future | She will write | Future actions |
| Present perfect | She has written | Past action with present relevance |
| Past perfect | She had written | Action before another past action |
| Future perfect | She will have written | Action completed before a future time |
Tense Consistency
Don't shift tenses without reason. If a passage is in past tense, keep it in past tense unless there's a logical reason to switch.
Wrong: "He walked to the store and buys milk." Right: "He walked to the store and bought milk."
When Tense Shifts Are Appropriate
- Describing a general truth within a past-tense narrative: "He learned that water boils at 100°C."
- Shifting between different time periods with a clear signal.
Past Perfect (Had + Past Participle)
Used for the earlier of two past events: "She had finished dinner before the guests arrived."
Strategy Tips
Tip 1: Check the Context
Time words (yesterday, since, by next year) indicate which tense to use.
Tip 2: Check Surrounding Sentences
The tense should be consistent with the rest of the paragraph.
Tip 3: Two Past Events → Past Perfect for the Earlier One
"By the time he arrived, she had left."
Key Takeaways
Maintain consistent tense unless there's a reason to shift.
Use past perfect for the earlier of two past events.
Time signals (yesterday, since, by 2025) determine the correct tense.
The SAT tests unnecessary tense shifts — keep the passage consistent.
