Conventions of Composition Rule 154 Practice

1. Wrong: Tommie asks her girlfriend if she had enough money for both of their movie tickets.

Better: Tommie asks her girlfriend if she has enough money for both of their movie tickets.

Also better: Tommie asked her girlfriend if she had enough money for both of their movie tickets.

Explanation: The asking and the having have to both be in present or both in past tense.

2. Wrong: When Val walked into the room, she says, "You have got to see this!"

Better: When Val walked into the room, she said, "You have got to see this!"

Also better: When Val walks into the room, she says, "You have got to see this!"

Explanation: The walking and the saying either both happened in the past or are both happening in the present. Note that the quotation doesn't change tenses but keeps her exact words no matter when the attribution happened/happens.

3. Wrong: Hayden left the room and thinks about what he'd just seen.

Better: Hayden left the room and thought about what he'd just seen.

Also better: Hayden leaves the room and thinks about what he has just seen.

Explanation: All of Hayden's actions should be in past or all in present tense.

4. Wrong: When I was growing up, I planned that I will study math and foreign languages.

Better: When I was growing up, I planned that I would study math and foreign languages.

Explanation: The opening clause makes clear that this whole sentence should be in past tense.