CH12 - Verb Tense Flashcards
What is the purpose of verbs?
Verbs tell the reader what action is taking place and when it happened.
Why is maintaining a consistent verb tense important?
It ensures the audience knows whether an event happened in the past, present, or future.
What are the three main verb tenses?
- Present
- Past
- Future
What does consistent verb tense mean?
The same verb tense is used throughout a sentence or paragraph.
Identify the inconsistent verb tense in the sentence: ‘We will submit the report after I finished my section.’
The inconsistent verb tenses are simple future (will submit) and simple past (finished).
What is the difference between active voice and passive voice?
Active voice: the subject carries out the action; Passive voice: the subject receives the action.
True or False: Passive voice is preferred for clarity in writing.
False.
What is nominalization?
The process of turning a verb into a noun by adding suffixes or forms of other verbs.
Fill in the blank: A more direct style of writing is almost always _______.
[preferable]
Which verb tenses are most commonly used in professional communication?
- Simple present
- Simple past
- Simple future
What is an example of a sentence in passive voice?
The candidate cannot be supported by our membership.
What is an example of a sentence in active voice?
Our members cannot support the candidate.
What are some suffixes that indicate nominalization?
- -ant
- -ent
- -ion
- -tion
- -sion
- -ence
- -ance
- -ing
How can overcomplicating verbs affect writing?
It can make writing muddled and lack clarity.
When is it appropriate to use passive voice?
When you want to deemphasize the doer of the action or when the doer is unknown.
What is a key takeaway regarding verb tense?
Verb tense helps express when an event takes place.
What is a better alternative to the nominalized form ‘The committee had a discussion about the new budget constraints’?
The committee discussed the new budget constraints.
