SKILL 33: KNOW WHEN TO USE THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT
We know that the verbs are often used in a way that it indicates or denotes the time
when an event occurred. These verbs that take up different forms to indicate the time
of an action, event or condition by changing its form are called as tenses.
In this way, the only ways you can write a present together with a past is when you
want to express something in the present that has as a consequence or reference
something that happened in the past, guided by the meaning of the sentence to
determine if it is correct.
USING THE PAST WITH THE PRESENT
1. If you see sentences with one verb in the past and one verb in the present, the
sentence is probably incorrect.
2. However, it is possible for a correct sentence to have both past and present
together.
3. If you see the past and present together, you must check the meaning to
determine whether or not the sentence is correct.
For example:
Your mom knows that you failed the test yesterday.
I understand that you were busy.
She studies hard because she failed last semester.