Improve Your Writing

Table of Contents

1. Why improve your understanding of grammar and punctuation?
2. Punctuation Marks
3. Common Confusions
4. Using quoted material.
5. Other pitfalls and problems
6. Style
7. Exercises
   1. Using the Colon to Improve Style
   2. Using the colon.
   3. Using the semi-colon.
   4. Using the comma 1.
   5. Using the comma 2.
   6. The comma splice.
   7. Separating Clauses
   8. Exercise about conjunctions.
   9. Exercise using the hyphen.
   10. Contracted words
   11. Using the apostrophe 1.
   12. Using the apostrophe 2.
   13. Lists.
   14. Punctuation marks exercise.
   15. Dangling participles exercise.
   16. Who's or Whose?
   17. It's or Its?
   18. There or Their or They're?
   19. To or Too or Two?
   20. Who or Whom?
   21. I or me?
   22. Less or Fewer?
   23. Like or As?
   24. Split Infinitives.
   25. Verb/Subject Agreement.
   26. Using the subjunctive.
   27. Using Numbers.
   28. Punctuation of embedded quotations 1.
   29. Punctuation of embedded quotations. 2
   30. Correcting quotes.
   31. Confusable words 1.
   32. Confusable Words 2.
   33. Confusable words 3.
   34. Consistency of tense.
   35. Common Mistakes.
   36. Run-on Sentences Exercise.
   37. Pleonasm Exercise.
   38. Straying Off The Point Exercise.

Consistency of tense.

In the following exercise, you will be presented with sentences, some of which contain inconsistency of tense. You need to tick the sentences that contain tense inconsistencies.

1

a) Jim wanted to visit his grandma but cannot find the money for a train ticket. b) We were able to travel to Athens but could not find a hotel. c) They left the house around eight, walked to town and end up in their favourite pub. d) If I had seen the car earlier, I would have been able to avoid the accident. Well done. You have identified all the tense inconsistencies. Have another try.

2

a) I couldn't come out with you because I don't have enough money. b) You will never be a professional athlete because you didn't eat the right diet. c) She wants to visit India but she had not got enough money. d) It is awful here; we could not see a thing. Well done. You have found all the tense inconsistencies. Have another think.

3

a) I get on well with all my friends as they were all really nice people. b) Sam cooked a fantastic meal and then had to do all the washing up. c) I got this souvenir when I was in on holiday in India. d) The building towers above the others and dominated the skyline. Well done. You have found all the tense inconsistencies. Have another think.

4	a) The test match was abandoned because it is raining so hard. b) The football match will be abandoned as it was raining so hard. c) She arrived on Sunday and leaves again next Monday. d) The football match will be abandoned as it is raining so hard. Congratulations. Have another look at them.

5

a) After they had seen the thief, Tim and Paul set off for the police station. b) The train leaves at seven o'clock and did not arrive until very late at night. c) I will never work for you even if you pay me thousands of pounds an hour. d) We are walking along the river bank when the accident happened. Congratulations. Have another think.

In this next section, you will need to indicate which sentence is correct.

6

a) I want to travel to India with my friends, but I couldn't find enough money. b) I wanted to travel to India with my friends, but I will not be able to find enough money. c) I wanted to travel to India with my friends, but I couldn't find enough money. Please select an answerNo. This sentence moves from the present to the past.No. This sentence moves from the past to the future. Correct.

7

a) France is a lovely country. It has some beautiful beaches. b) France is a lovely country. It had some beautiful beaches. c) France was a lovely country. It has some beautiful beaches. Please select an answerCorrect. No. This sentence changes from the present to the past. No. This sentence changes from the past to the present.

8

a) She hated playing the piano, but can sing beautifully. b) She hates playing the piano, but could sing beautifully. c) She hates playing the piano, but can sing beautifully. Please select an answerThis sentence does change from the past to the present although it still sounds alright. One of the other choices sounds better. No. This sentence changes from the present to the past. Correct. This sentence sounds best of all.

9

a) We left home first thing in the morning and arrive late at night. b) We left home first thing in the morning and arrived late at night. c) We leave home first thing in the morning and arrived late at night. Please select an answerNo. This sentence changes from the past to the present.Correct. No. This sentence changes from the present to the past.

10

a) We sneaked into the kitchen and raid the fridge. b) We sneak into the kitchen and raided the fridge. c) We sneaked into the kitchen and raided the fridge. Please select an answerNo. This sentence changes from the past to the presesnt. No. This sentence changes from the present to the past. Correct.

Find out more about consistency of tense.

See a list of other grammar exercises.