Then, because all the others are consistent with the subject, make sure they are consistent with the other
verbs. It looks like all the other verbs in this sentence—believe, comes, may be—are in the present tense,
so the underlined verb should be as well, as it is in (D). Choices (B) and (C) could work in some
contexts, but not this one!
As you can see, verbs are all about consistency.
When you see verbs changing in the answer choices, make sure those verbs are- CONSISTENT with their subjects
- CONSISTENT with other verbs in the sentence and surrounding sentences
Let’s try one that has a little bit of everything.
Trying to understand these changes 3 demonstrate that although we all technically speak
English, we speak very different languages indeed.3.
A) NO CHANGE
B) demonstrate that although we all technically spoke English, we speak
C) demonstrates that although we all technically speak English, we might have been
speaking
D) demonstrates that although we all technically speak English, we speakHere’s How to Crack It
Check what’s changing in the answer choices. It looks like lots of verbs!
Let’s start with the first. See which one, demonstrate or demonstrates, is consistent with the subject. That
subject is Trying, which is singular, thus eliminating (A) and (B).
Then, we have to choose between speak and might have been speaking. Since both of these are consistent
with the subject we, let’s try to pick the one that is most consistent with other verbs. The only other verbs
are demonstrates and speak, both of which are in the present tense and don’t use the odd might have been
form. Therefore, if we have to choose between (C) and (D), (D) is definitely better.
Consistency applies across the test. Let’s see another question in which the idea of Consistency might help
us.