Name: ________________________________________________

Advisory: ______________________________________________
VERB TENSE PRACTICE:

Date: __________________________________
Work Hard. Be Nice. Have Pride.

DO NOW: What is geography?

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Uses for geography:
recognizing patterns
mapping
graphing
solutions for local, state, or national problems

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF NORTH AMERICA

Rocky Mountains - Appalachian Mountains - Mississippi River - Great Lakes - Great Plains - Rio Grande - Lake Okeechobee - Mojave Desert

1. Read the following excerpt to yourself. This excerpt has some grammatical mistakes, try to identify them.
The St. Johns River was the longest river in Florida. According to Florida Department for Environmental
Protections online article St Johns River, It is one of the few major rivers in the nation that flows north,
from its start in marshes southwest of Cape Canaveral to Jacksonville and the Atlantic Ocean. This river is
310 miles in length and uniquely flows north. In between, it evolved into a series of lakes and emerges into a
river averaging two miles wide for its final 100 miles. All in all, the St. Johns River is the longest river in the
state.

Is this piece of writing meant to be written in the past or present tense? How do I know?
Are all the verbs in the piece in the appropriate tense? If not, underline them.
Ask yourself, how do I modify this verb to ensure its in the right tense?

ASK YOURSELF
2. Read the following excerpt to yourself. This excerpt may have some grammatical mistakes, try to identify them.
Federal, state and river community partners are working to restore the great river. Efforts include the restoration
of thousands of wetlands acres and their habitats, ecosystem management, waterfront redevelopment, and a
development plan to link environmental, historic and cultural sites. According to Florida Department for
Environmental Protections online article St Johns River, The legislature has allocated more than $30 million to
address these initiatives. This shows the legislature is committed to the restoration of the St. Johns River.
3. Evaluate these excerpts for proper verb tense and make modifications as needed.
Today, the St. Johns River provides the backdrop for all of Northeast Florida; it was a vital and critical part of the
economy and quality of life. In December 1997, a "River Summit" was held to assess the current state of the river
and plan for improvements. This led to the rivers appointment as an "American Heritage River" on July 30, 1998,
recognizing its ecological, historic, economic and cultural significance.
A St. Johns River Celebration is held each March to clean the river's shores. In the past six years, 33,900 volunteers
collect two and a half million pounds of garbage. The commitment of citizens, government agencies,
environmental groups and legislators is ensuring that the St. Johns River will be fully restored and enhanced for
the enjoyment of visitors and citizens.

EXEMPLAR:
The St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida. According to Florida
Department for Environmental Protections online article St Johns River, It is
one of the few major rivers in the nation that flows north, from its start in marshes
southwest of Cape Canaveral to Jacksonville and the Atlantic Ocean. This river
is 310 miles in length and uniquely flows north. In between, it evolves into a series
of lakes and emerges into a river averaging two miles wide for its final 100 miles.
All in all, the St. Johns River is the longest river in the state.
Physical Feature: ______________________________________

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