Shifts and Mixed

constructions
Consistency in person, number, tense,
mood, voice and tone within a
sentence must be avoided.
Shift in Person
• This kind of shift occurs when, within a
sentence, the person shifts from the
first person to the second person or
from second person to the third
person.

• This leads to erroneous (incorrect)

sentences.
Example:
• A person who is non-smoker can develop lung
problems when you live with smokers.

A person who is a non-smoker can develop lung

problems when he or she lives with smokers.

Or
If you are non-smoker you can develop lung
problems when you live with smokers.
Shift in Number:

Means shifting between singular and

plural in one sentence.
Example:
1. They had best of their life.

They had best of their lives

2. All the candidates have a conservative record.

All the candidates have conservative records.

Shift in Tense:
• Tense is marked by verb endings and
auxiliary verbs.
e.g. He walks home, He walked home,
He will walk home, He was walking
home
Example:
• In the above given article the researcher
criticized the postmodern lacks of ethics and
asks whether literature should still teach as well
as entertain.
In the above given article the researcher criticizes the
postmodern lacks of ethics and asks whether literature
should still teach as well as entertain.
or
In the above given article the researcher criticized the
postmodern lacks of ethics and asked whether literature
should still teach as well as entertain.
Shift in Mood:
It means what the attitude of the speaker towards the
action is.
Three moods:
• Indicative: sentence presented as a fact or straight
assertion
e.g. The car met accident because of the carelessness of
the driver.
She play a guitar.
• Imperative: sentence presented as a command.
e.g. In order to achieve your goals you have to work hard.
Play the guitar. / Please play the guitar
• Subjective: sentence presented as a doubtful or
conditional
e.g. I wish , I were a fast runner.
I propose that Ali be asked to play the guitar
Example:
• If he were more experienced, he will
be able to help us.

• If he were more experienced, he

would be able to help us
Shift in Voice:
• A transitive verb can be expressed in in
active or passive voice.
e.g: The door was opened. (passive)
Asad opened the door. (active)

Shift from one voice to another within a

sentence is confusing and hindrance in
writing clear concise sentences.
Example:
Columbus arrived in the new world,
and it was believed he had found the
coast of Asia.

Columbus arrived in the new world,

and believed he had found the coast of
Asia.
Shifting between Direct and Indirect
Discourse:
• Direct discourse is where you quote
directly.
• Indirect discourse is paraphrasing.
• So, when we move from one to
another, there are verb changes which
must take place.
Example:
• Manager asked, “Is that the telephone
ringing?”

• Manager asked whether the telephone

was ringing.
Mixed Constructions:
• It means that a sentence begins with one
grammatical pattern and then ends with another
grammatical pattern. Such sentences confuse the
readers.
E.g. The fact that confidence is as important to a
presenter's success as audio-visual aids.

Confidence is as important to a presenter's

success as audio-visual aids.
Adverbial clauses
An adverb clause that begins with a subordinating
conjunction (when, because, although) can’t serve
as a subject.

• E.g. When a set is successful design pleases

actors and theatre goers alike.
When a set is successful, design pleases actors
and theatre goers alike.
Or
A successfully designed set pleases actors and
theatre goers alike.
Maintain Consistent Relation between
Subjects and Predicates
This usually involves the verb “be”
E.g The child is very happy.

• The resolving power of an electron microscope is keenly

aware of life invisible to human eye.

• The resolving power of an electron microscope helps us

to be keenly aware of life invisible to human eye.
Prepositional Phrases:
The object of a prepositional phrase, which
is noun, cannot function as the subject of a
sentence.
• E.g. By creating a functional set design can help the
audience believe the stage is a real place.

Creating a functional set design can help the audience

believe the stage is a real place.
or
By creating a functional set design, the designer can help
the audience believe the stage is a real place.
Hence,
English is not that difficult language,
trust in your abilities and write
confidently.
GOOD LUCK