... STRATEGIES FOB VERB TENSE ITEMS ASK YOURSELF THESE QUESTIONS: Is there a time expression in the sentence? If so, does the verb tense agree with the meaning of the time ... the verb being used as a stative verb? That is, does it describe state rather than an action? If so, check to make sure the verb is not a progressive form (-ing) Note: Seem, know, and other verbs ... the sentence have two clauses (an independent clause and a dependent clause)? If so, is the tense of the verb in the dependent clause correct? INCORRECT [Ms Martin tested the copying machine before...