Mixed Tenses in Narrative

Switch tenses for effect.

Examples

• He was walking when he realised he'd lost his keys.

Key rules

• Narrative tenses: past simple for main events, past continuous for background, past perfect for earlier events
• Present can be used for vivid effect
• Keep time order clear
• Use time markers: while, when, by then

Common mistakes

• When I walked in, he cooked dinner → When I walked in, he was cooking dinner
• I was tired because I worked → I was tired because I had worked