SAT Grammar: Verb Forms
Master verb tenses and consistency for the SAT Reading & Writing section
Verb form questions test your ability to maintain tense consistency and choose the correct verb tense based on context. Understanding when to use different verb tenses is essential for achieving a top score on the SAT Reading and Writing section.
What are Verb Forms?
Definition: Verb forms (or verb tenses) indicate when an action occurs—past, present, or future—and the relationship between different actions in time.
The Golden Rule:
Verbs must remain consistent in tense throughout a sentence or paragraph unless there's a logical reason for the tense to change (e.g., describing actions that occurred at different times).
❌ Incorrect:
Shakespeare wrote Hamlet in 1600, and the play explores themes of revenge and mortality.
✓ Correct:
Shakespeare wrote Hamlet in 1600, and the play explored themes of revenge and mortality.
Explanation: Both actions occurred in the past, so both verbs should be in past tense.
Major Verb Tenses on the SAT
The SAT tests six primary verb tenses. Understanding when to use each tense is crucial for answering verb form questions correctly.
1. Simple Present
When to Use:
• Actions happening currently or regularly
• Universal truths or facts that are always true
• Habitual actions
Examples:
• Water boils at 100°C. (universal truth)
• The Earth orbits the Sun. (scientific fact)
• She plays tennis every Saturday. (habitual action)
2. Simple Past
When to Use:
• Actions that were completed in the past
• Historical events or dates
• Key signal words: yesterday, last week, in 1990, ago
Examples:
• The Civil War ended in 1865. (specific past date)
• Marie Curie discovered radium in 1898. (completed action)
• Yesterday, I finished my homework. (completed action)
3. Present Perfect (has/have + past participle)
When to Use:
• Actions that began in the past and continue to the present
• Actions with relevance to the present
• Key signal words: for, since, recently, so far, yet
Examples:
• For the past decade, scientists have studied climate change. (started in past, still ongoing)
• She has lived in Paris since 2015. (started in past, still living there)
• We have completed the project. (relevant to present)
⚠️ SAT Tip:
Present perfect is rarely correct on the SAT. Most of the time, simple past or simple present is the right answer.
4. Past Perfect (had + past participle)
When to Use:
• When describing two past actions, use past perfect for the action that happened first
• Shows that one past action was completed before another past action
• Key signal words: by the time, before, after, already
Examples:
• By the time she arrived, the meeting had ended. (ending happened first)
• Before he became president, Obama had worked as a lawyer. (working happened first)
• I had never seen the ocean until I visited California. (not seeing happened first)
⚠️ SAT Tip:
Past perfect is also rarely correct on the SAT unless there's a clear sequence of two past actions.
5. Future (will + verb)
When to Use:
• Actions that will occur in the future
• Predictions or expectations about future events
Examples:
• The concert will begin at 8 PM.
• Scientists predict that temperatures will rise over the next decade.
6. Conditional (would + verb)
When to Use:
• Hypothetical situations or "what if" scenarios
• Describing something from a past perspective about the future
Examples:
• If I were rich, I would buy a mansion. (hypothetical)
• In 1960, no one knew that Kennedy would become president. (past perspective of future)
Common SAT Traps & Pitfalls
Trap #1: Tense Inconsistency Within a Sentence
This is the SAT's #1 verb trap. Verbs in the same sentence or clause must maintain consistent tense unless there's a logical reason to shift.
🎯 Strategy:
Look at other verbs in the sentence. All verbs describing simultaneous actions should match in tense.
❌ Wrong:
The author described the landscape vividly and creates a haunting atmosphere.
✓ Correct:
The author described the landscape vividly and created a haunting atmosphere.
Both actions occurred simultaneously, so both should be in past tense.
Trap #2: Historical Facts vs. Universal Truths
Historical events require past tense, but universal truths or scientific facts require present tense—even when discussing the past.
🎯 Strategy:
Ask: "Is this still true today?" If yes, use present tense. If it only happened in the past, use past tense.
✓ Correct (Universal Truth):
Although the cheetah holds the record for fastest land animal, many other mammals outlast it.
This is still true today → present tense
✓ Correct (Historical Event):
After winning Wimbledon in 2012, Federer regained the top ranking and declared himself the best in the world.
Specific historical event → past tense
Trap #3: Missing Context Clues
The SAT provides context clues in the sentence that tell you which tense to use. Look for dates, time markers, and other verbs.
Key Time Markers:
Past: yesterday, in 1990, last week, ago, when
Present Perfect: for (duration), since, recently, so far
Past Perfect: by the time, before, after, already
Present: now, currently, always, every day
Example:
For the past seven hours, George has watched Netflix.
"For the past seven hours" signals present perfect (action started in past, continues to present).
Trap #4: Would vs. Will in Different Time Contexts
"Would" is used with past tense sentences; "will" is used with present/future tense sentences.
Rule:
Use "would" when discussing the future from a past perspective. Use "will" for straightforward future actions.
❌ Wrong:
No one knew in 1960 that Kennedy will become president.
✓ Correct:
No one knew in 1960 that Kennedy would become president.
Past tense context (1960) requires "would," not "will."
Trap #5: Legitimate Tense Shifts
Sometimes a tense shift is correct because the sentence describes actions that occurred at different times or in different clauses.
🎯 Strategy:
A tense shift is acceptable when actions happen at different times or in separate clauses with different time references.
✓ Correct Tense Shift:
When I was young, I hated vegetables, but now I love them.
Tense shift is correct because the actions occurred at different times (past vs. present).
Fully Worked SAT-Style Examples
Example 1: Tense Consistency
The artist's early work focused on themes of migration and transience, but now, inspired by her daughter's experience, she often ______ the rich lives of children with disabilities.
A) explored
B) had explored
C) explores
D) will explore
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the context clue.
The word "now" is a critical time marker indicating present tense.
Step 2: Recognize the contrast.
The sentence contrasts past work ("focused") with current work ("now").
The shift from past to present is intentional and correct.
Step 3: Determine the required tense.
Since the blank describes what she does "now" and "often" (habitual present action), we need present tense.
Step 4: Eliminate wrong answers.
• A) explored – past tense ❌
• B) had explored – past perfect (even further in past) ❌
• C) explores – present tense ✓
• D) will explore – future tense ❌
Answer: C – "explores" matches the present tense context signaled by "now" and "often."
Example 2: Historical Event (Past Tense)
After winning Wimbledon in 2012, Federer regained the top ranking and ______ himself the best player in the world.
A) declares
B) declared
C) has declared
D) will declare
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Look for context clues.
The date "2012" is a clear indicator of a specific past event.
Step 2: Check verb consistency.
The other verb in the sentence is "regained" (past tense).
Since both actions happened at the same time (after winning), they should be in the same tense.
Step 3: Apply the tense rule.
Historical events or actions with specific past dates require simple past tense.
Step 4: Eliminate wrong answers.
• A) declares – present tense (inconsistent) ❌
• B) declared – past tense (matches "regained") ✓
• C) has declared – present perfect (rarely correct on SAT) ❌
• D) will declare – future tense ❌
Answer: B – "declared" maintains consistency with the past tense established by "regained" and "2012."
Example 3: Present Perfect (For/Since)
For the past decade, scientists ______ the effects of climate change on polar ice caps, documenting significant reductions in ice volume.
A) study
B) studied
C) have studied
D) had studied
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the key signal phrase.
"For the past decade" is a critical clue indicating an action that:
• Started in the past (10 years ago)
• Continues to the present (still studying)
Step 2: Determine the appropriate tense.
When an action began in the past and continues to the present, use present perfect (has/have + past participle).
Step 3: Check subject-verb agreement.
Subject: "scientists" (plural)
Therefore, use "have studied" (not "has studied")
Step 4: Evaluate all choices.
• A) study – simple present (doesn't show duration) ❌
• B) studied – simple past (implies action ended) ❌
• C) have studied – present perfect (action ongoing) ✓
• D) had studied – past perfect (action ended before another past action) ❌
Answer: C – "have studied" correctly uses present perfect for an action that started in the past and continues to the present.
Example 4: Past Perfect (Sequence of Events)
By the time his mother came home from work, George ______ seven hours of Netflix and finished all his homework.
A) watches
B) watched
C) has watched
D) had watched
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the signal phrase.
"By the time" is a critical indicator of the past perfect tense.
It signals a sequence of two completed actions in the past.
Step 2: Determine the sequence.
Action 1 (first): George watched Netflix
Action 2 (second): Mother came home
Rule: Use past perfect for the action that happened first.
Step 3: Apply the past perfect rule.
Since the watching was completed before the mother came home, use past perfect (had + past participle).
Step 4: Check other verbs for confirmation.
"Came" is simple past, and "finished" should also be past perfect since it happened before she came home.
Step 5: Evaluate choices.
• A) watches – present tense ❌
• B) watched – simple past (doesn't show sequence) ❌
• C) has watched – present perfect (wrong timeframe) ❌
• D) had watched – past perfect (shows earlier action) ✓
Answer: D – "had watched" correctly uses past perfect for an action completed before another past action.
Example 5: Would vs. Will (Past Perspective)
When Marie Curie began her research in 1891, no one could have predicted that she ______ the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences.
A) will become
B) would become
C) becomes
D) had become
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the time context.
The sentence begins with "When Marie Curie began... in 1891" – establishing a past time context.
The main clause is also in the past: "no one could have predicted"
Step 2: Understand the would/will rule.
"Would" = used when discussing the future from a past perspective
"Will" = used for straightforward future statements from the present
Step 3: Apply the rule.
Since we're discussing what people in 1891 thought about the future (from their perspective), we need "would" to maintain past tense consistency.
Step 4: Eliminate wrong answers.
• A) will become – future from present perspective ❌
• B) would become – future from past perspective ✓
• C) becomes – simple present ❌
• D) had become – past perfect (she hadn't become it yet in 1891) ❌
Answer: B – "would become" correctly describes a future event from a past perspective.
Example 6: Universal Truth (Present Tense)
Although the cheetah ______ the record for fastest land animal, many other mammals outlast it in endurance competitions.
A) held
B) has held
C) holds
D) had held
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the type of statement.
This sentence expresses a universal truth or scientific fact – something that is currently true and will remain true.
Step 2: Apply the universal truth rule.
Rule: Statements of fact or things that are always true must be in present tense.
The cheetah still holds the record today – it's a current fact.
Step 3: Check verb consistency.
The other verb in the sentence is "outlast" (present tense).
Both verbs should be in present tense because both describe current truths.
Step 4: Eliminate wrong answers.
• A) held – past tense (implies no longer true) ❌
• B) has held – present perfect (unnecessary complexity) ❌
• C) holds – simple present (matches universal truth) ✓
• D) had held – past perfect (implies ended before another past event) ❌
Answer: C – "holds" correctly uses present tense for a universal truth that is still valid today.
Example 7: Legitimate Tense Shift
During the last fifty years, significant changes ______ in technology, and these innovations have seemed to accelerate exponentially in recent decades.
A) come
B) came
C) have come
D) had come
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the time marker.
"During the last fifty years" indicates a period that:
• Began in the past (50 years ago)
• Extends to the present (still within those 50 years)
Step 2: Look for consistency clues.
The second verb in the sentence is "have seemed" (present perfect).
This is a strong clue that the first verb should also be in present perfect.
Step 3: Apply the present perfect rule.
Present perfect is used for actions or changes that began in the past and continue to have relevance in the present.
Step 4: Evaluate all choices.
• A) come – simple present (doesn't show duration) ❌
• B) came – simple past (implies changes are over) ❌
• C) have come – present perfect (matches "have seemed") ✓
• D) had come – past perfect (wrong timeframe) ❌
Answer: C – "have come" maintains consistency with "have seemed" and correctly uses present perfect for changes spanning from past to present.
Top Test-Day Strategies
1. Check Other Verbs
Look at other verbs in the sentence or paragraph. They provide strong clues about which tense should be used. Maintain consistency unless there's a logical reason to shift.
2. Hunt for Time Markers
Look for words like "now," "yesterday," "since," "for," "by the time," and specific dates. These signal which tense to use.
3. Avoid Complex Tenses
Present perfect and past perfect are usually wrong on the SAT. When in doubt, choose simple past or simple present—they're correct 90% of the time.
4. Ask "Is This Still True?"
For universal truths or scientific facts, use present tense even in sentences about the past. If it's still true today, use present tense.
5. Choose the Shortest Answer
When stuck between verb choices, the shortest, simplest option is usually correct. "Walked" beats "had been walking" most of the time.
6. Understand Sequence
Use past perfect only when describing two past actions where one clearly happened before the other. Otherwise, stick with simple past.
Quick Reference Chart
| Tense | When to Use | Signal Words | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | Current actions, universal truths | now, always, every day | Water boils at 100°C. |
| Simple Past | Completed past actions | yesterday, in 1990, ago | She visited Paris last year. |
| Present Perfect | Past action continuing to present | for, since, recently | She has lived here since 2010. |
| Past Perfect | First of two past actions | by the time, before, after | He had eaten before she arrived. |
| Future | Actions that will happen | tomorrow, next week, soon | She will graduate in June. |
| Conditional | Hypotheticals, past perspective of future | if, (past context) | No one knew she would win. |
Key Takeaways
- Maintain tense consistency – verbs in the same sentence should be in the same tense unless there's a logical reason to shift
- Look for context clues like dates, time markers (now, yesterday, since, for), and other verbs
- Historical events and specific past dates require simple past tense
- Universal truths and scientific facts require present tense, even in sentences about the past
- Present perfect and past perfect are rarely correct on the SAT – default to simple present or simple past
- Use present perfect (has/have + past participle) for actions that began in the past and continue to the present (signal words: for, since)
- Use past perfect (had + past participle) only when describing two past actions where one clearly happened first (signal phrase: by the time)
- Use "would" with past tense contexts; use "will" with present/future contexts
- Tense shifts are acceptable when actions occur at different times or in different clauses
- When in doubt, choose the shortest, simplest verb form – it's usually correct
Master these verb form rules and you'll confidently tackle every verb tense question on the SAT. Remember: consistency is key, and simpler is usually better!