Narrative Tense (2)

You must learn to tell the difference between a past tense narrative and a present tense narrative.

If you're confident that you already have this skill, then skip straight to the quiz at the bottom of the page. Otherwise, keep reading.

Determining Narrative Tense

The basic rule is simple: If the main verbs are in past tense, it is a past-tense narrative. If the main verbs are in present tense, it is a present-tense narrative.

The tricky part, for some students, is to figure out which verbs are the main verbs (as opposed to secondary verbs).

Here are some tips:

1) Ignore Dialogue

• Anything within quotation marks is dialogue (words that are spoken). You can always ignore spoken words, because they are never main verbs.

John said, "I eat an apple every day."

• In the above example, "eat" is a present-tense verb. However, it is not the main verb, because it is a word that is spoken by one of the characters. (You can tell because it appears inside the quotation marks of what John said). Therefore, you should ignore the verb "eat".
• In the above example, the main verb is "said". "Said" is a past tense verb; therefore, the sentence is written in the past tense.

2) Look for the words "said" or "says".

• In any text that includes dialogue, look for the words "said" or "says".
  • It the author uses the word "said", he or she is using past tense.
  • If the author uses the word "says", he or she is using present tense.

3) Ignore infinitive verbs.

• An infinitive verb is a verb that follows the word "to". (The word "to" is sometimes called the "sign of the infinitive"). Infinitive verbs are never main verbs. Ignore them.

Gwen wanted to wash her hair.

• In the above example, the verb "wash" is a present tense verb. However, it is an infinitive verb. (You can tell because it follows the word "to"). Therefore, "wash" is not the main verb; the main verb is "wanted." Since "wanted" is a past-tense verb, we know that the author is writing in past tense.

4) For negative verbs, look at the "helping word" that precedes the verb.

Past Tense	Present Tense
I didn't enjoy the meal. I didn't go swimming. I couldn't lift the box.	I don't enjoy the meal. I don't go swimming. I can't lift the box.

More Examples

The main verbs are in bold.

Past Tense	Present Tense
John went to the house. He rang the doorbell. Sally opened the door. She asked, "What are you doing here?" John said, "I came to apologize."	John goes to the house. He rings the doorbell. Sally opens the door. She asks, "What are you doing here?" John says, "I came to apologize."
Lilly hated to run the mile. She liked to read books. She pretended to be sick, so that her gym teacher would write her a pass to the library. Her gym teacher said, "You're sick again?" Clearly, he didn't believe her.	Lilly hates to run the mile. She likes to read books. She pretends to be sick, so that her gym teacher will write her a pass to the library. Her gym teacher says, "You're sick again?" Clearly, he doesn't believe her.

Instructions for the Quiz

Determine the narrative tense.

• present tense
• past tense

Quiz