Using Past Tense in MLA Format: Rules and Examples

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🕰️ MLA format requires you to use past tense when discussing events or actions that have already occurred.
• ✍️ When analyzing literature, use past tense to describe what the author *did* in the text. For example, "Shakespeare *explored* themes of jealousy in *Othello*."
• ✔️ Use past perfect tense (had + past participle) to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. For example, "She *had finished* her essay before the deadline arrived."
• 📝 Ensure verb tense consistency within your sentences and paragraphs. Avoid unnecessary shifts in tense.
• 💡 When quoting sources, maintain the original tense used by the author.

Practice Quiz

1. Which sentence correctly uses past tense according to MLA guidelines?
   1. Shakespeare explores themes of love in Romeo and Juliet.
   2. Shakespeare will explore themes of love in Romeo and Juliet.
   3. Shakespeare explored themes of love in Romeo and Juliet.
   4. Shakespeare is exploring themes of love in Romeo and Juliet.
2. Choose the sentence that correctly uses the past perfect tense.
   1. She finishes the report before the meeting starts.
   2. She had finished the report before the meeting started.
   3. She finished the report before the meeting starts.
   4. She will finish the report before the meeting starts.
3. Which sentence demonstrates correct verb tense consistency?
   1. The author argues that technology impacted society and continues to shape our future.
   2. The author argued that technology impacts society and continues to shape our future.
   3. The author argued that technology impacted society and continued to shape our future.
   4. The author argues that technology impacted society and continued to shape our future.
4. Identify the sentence where the verb tense is used incorrectly according to MLA guidelines.
   1. The evidence suggested a different conclusion.
   2. The data suggests a different conclusion.
   3. The researcher collected the samples last week.
   4. The experiment will show different results.
5. Which option correctly describes an author's action in a literary analysis?
   1. Hemingway portrays the struggles of his characters.
   2. Hemingway will portray the struggles of his characters.
   3. Hemingway portrayed the struggles of his characters.
   4. Hemingway is portraying the struggles of his characters.
6. Select the sentence with the correct use of past tense when referring to historical events.
   1. The Roman Empire falls in the 5th century.
   2. The Roman Empire fall in the 5th century.
   3. The Roman Empire fell in the 5th century.
   4. The Roman Empire will fall in the 5th century.
7. Which sentence follows MLA guidelines for using past tense when discussing a completed research study?
   1. The study demonstrates the positive effects of exercise.
   2. The study will demonstrate the positive effects of exercise.
   3. The study demonstrated the positive effects of exercise.
   4. The study is demonstrating the positive effects of exercise.