Tense matching in complex sentences

[Scott]

Are both of the following grammatically correct or only one:


1-- I especially enjoyed the twists and turns the plot takes as each discovery leads to new developments.

2-- I especially enjoyed the twists and turns the plot took as each discovery led to new developments.


In other words, does the tense of the word takes/took have to match the tense of the word enjoyed in the above sentence structure?

I think we can all agree the tense of leads/led has to match takes/took in the above sentence, but I'm not sure if they need to match enjoyed. I feel as if a person (or any noun) can have previously enjoyed (or verbed) something that is still presently ongoing. But I am not sure if that violates any grammar rules regarding matching tenses. What do you think?

[EvaDar]

I think both are correct. Tense shifting is a complicated issue that I have often seen mischaracterized. I am not an expert, but I think the following:

Because we are reviewing books, we generally use past tense to describe our experience of the book:
I especially enjoyed the twists and turns.

That enjoyment happened in the past and does not need to match the tense selected by the reviewer to describe the plot action. The plot action can be described in past or present tense, and should be consistent, but does not have to match the reviewer's past tense experience of the book. I have been incorrectly dinged by editors in my reviews for not matching tenses that refer to different experiences happening at different times.

Tense can shift within a sentence unless the references are to the same experience in time.

It would not be correct to say either of the following, because enjoyed (past) does not match like (present).

Incorrect:
I especially enjoyed the twists and turns the plot took, and I like how each discovery leads to new developments.
OR
I especially enjoyed the twists and turns the plot took, and I like how each discovery led to new developments.

Correct:
I especially enjoyed the twists and turns the plot took, and I liked how each discovery leads to new developments.

I especially enjoyed the twists and turns the plot took, and I liked how each discovery led to new developments.

I believe enjoyed and liked need to match each other, but they don't need to match leads or led.

I do not have a source that describes this. Reviewing books creates a tense-shifting issue that is unique and not often discussed cogently. If I find a good source, I will provide.

[Alice Heritage]

Are both of the following grammatically correct or only one:


1-- I especially enjoyed the twists and turns the plot takes as each discovery leads to new developments.

2-- I especially enjoyed the twists and turns the plot took as each discovery led to new developments.


In other words, does the tense of the word takes/took have to match the tense of the word enjoyed in the above sentence structure?

I think we can all agree the tense of leads/led has to match takes/took in the above sentence, but I'm not sure if they need to match enjoyed. I feel as if a person (or any noun) can have previously enjoyed (or verbed) something that is still presently ongoing. But I am not sure if that violates any grammar rules regarding matching tenses. What do you think?

The rule is that the tense should shift back in reported speech, after a verb of saying, thinking, and so on. However, an exception can be made if the statement is still true in the present, especially in informal writing. Since it is still true that the plot is taking twists and turns, I think both are correct.

[Scott]

Thank you for your help @Eva Darrington and @ButterscotchCherrie!


What about the following sentence:

"An aspect of the novel that I really enjoyed is that it makes the readers think."

Do you think that is correct?

[bookowlie]

Yes. The descriptions relate to different people - your action (that you enjoyed the book) and the readers' actions (that it makes the readers think). If you were referring to the same person or group, then I think the tense in the second part of the sentence needs to match the first part.

Example: "An aspect of the novel that I really enjoyed is that it made me think.