1.7 SAT Writing - Verb Usage

Verb Usage: It's crucial for you to know at least the six basic tenses of English.  Often many of the SAT questions contain broken clocks.  Let me explain.  The function of a verb is twofold: tell time and express action.  The test maker enjoys tricking students with sentences that contain broken clocks.  In other words, one of the verbs either fails to express the correct time or is out of sequence with the other verbs.  This condition is especially true for the perfect tenses.  Though there are a total of twelve tenses in English, it is best to familiarize yourself the six basic tenses as listed below:

6 Verb Tenses

• Simple Past
• Simple Present
• Simple Future
• Perfect Past
• Perfect Present
• Perfect Future

Since most students can point out problems with the simple tenses, it will be important to take a closer look at the perfect tenses.  In fact, most questions that involve the simple tenses are rated as "Easy" or a "1" on a 1-5 scale.  Typically, many students answer these questions correctly.  Students who want to score above average on the SAT need to spot broken clocks with more sophisticated uses of verb.  Let's examine each of the perfect tenses. 

Perfect Past Tense

The perfect past tense has a special use, namely, when one event (event A) occurs before another event (event B) and both are completed actions, then you should use the perfect past.  Note that many students use this tense incorrectly since they fail to recognize that you must have an event B if you want the tense to work.  For example, take the following sentence:

I had parked my car before I read the no parking sign.  The parking (event A) occurs before the recognition (event B).  Since one event occurs before the next, this calls for the past perfect tense.  However, many students use the past perfect tense "had + a verb" without a legitimate use. 

Perfect Present Tense

The perfect present is clearer to see.  This tense tells a different time.  If an action starts in the past and continues to the present, then you need the present perfect clock. 

Consider the following sentence:

I have been a student for ten years. 

This sentence suggests that the trait of "student" started ten years ago and it continues until the present moment. 

Perfect Future Tense

The future perfect mirrors the past perfect but on the other side of the timeline.  In other words, if an event A occurs before an event B, both in the future, then you need the future perfect clock.  Take the following example: By June 2010, I will have taken the SAT.  Since "June 2010" has not occurred and taking the SAT has not occurred (one before the other), we need the future perfect tense.  Look for these time sequences in broken form.  As I suggested before, the simple tense errors are easy to spot, but the perfect tense errors are more discreet.