Section 6 - Verb tense 6.1 - Verb tense Be consistent in the use of tense. When you begin in the past, stay in the past: The evaluation mission that the beneficiary schools few teaching noted had materials. A common error is the use of the present perfect to describe an event that has already ended. The correct verb tense for this case is past simple: Between 2003 and 2005, the enrolment rate from 54 percent to 43 percent. fell NOT: Between 2003 and 2005, the enrolment rate from 54 percent to 43 has fallen percent. The subjunctive The subjunctive mood expresses a wished-for, hypothetical or contingent relationship between subject and predicate, as for example in "... if I you ..." were or "... that as it may ...". It is used after verbs such as "recommend" and be "suggest": The Board recommends that WFP proactive in developing partnerships. be We suggest that he leave of absence until the matter has been resolved. take The subjunctive is usually used after "if": If a further emergency to occur during this period. were When using the conditional be sure to use the subjunctive as well: would, If funding [subjunctive] provided, the project [conditional] be able were would to proceed. WFP [conditional] have to end its operations if the would decision [subjunctive] to be negative. were Section 7 - Usage
Section 6 - Verb tense 6.1 - Verb tense Be consistent in the use of tense. When you begin in the past, stay in the past: The evaluation mission noted that the beneficiary schools had few teaching materials. A common error is the use of the present perfect to describe an event that has already ended. The correct verb tense for this case is past simple: Between 2003 and 2005, the enrolment rate fell from 54 percent to 43 percent. NOT: Between 2003 and 2005, the enrolment rate has fallen from 54 percent to 43 percent. The subjunctive The subjunctive mood expresses a wished-for, hypothetical or contingent relationship between subject and predicate, as for example in "... if I were you ..." or "... be that as it may ...". It is used after verbs such as "recommend" and "suggest": The Board recommends that WFP be proactive in developing partnerships. We suggest that he take leave of absence until the matter has been resolved. The subjunctive is usually used after "if": If a further emergency were to occur during this period. When using the conditional would, be sure to use the subjunctive as well: If funding were [subjunctive] provided, the project would [conditional] be able to proceed. WFP would [conditional] have to end its operations if the decision were [subjunctive] to be negative. Section 7 - Usage
WFP_English_Style_Guidelines_2014_edition.docx