Virginia SOL 7.LU.1.E
The Standard
Maintain consistent verb tense across paragraphs in writing.
Virginia Standards of Learning for English · Grammar
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students choose a main verb tense and keep it consistent across connected paragraphs. They shift tense only when the time changes and make that change clear.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students can write a multi-paragraph passage with a clear main tense. They can find and fix accidental shifts while keeping necessary shifts for flashbacks or later events.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may switch tense when starting a new paragraph or moving between summary and detail. Some think every verb must use one tense, even when events happen at different times.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Write two paragraphs about a memorable school day. Underline each verb, then correct any tense shift that does not show a real time change.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs a mixed-tense story cut into paragraph strips, then have them arrange it and revise the verbs for a clear timeline.
Ask students to explain when a tense shift is needed, using a flashback or prediction from a familiar story as evidence.
Play Tense Editor: teams race to find and correct unnecessary tense shifts in short multi-paragraph passages.
Have students revise a school announcement or event recap so past events, current details, and future plans use clear, consistent tenses.
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