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It depends on what you are writing but sometimes verb tenses don't have to be consistent when writing because tenses change depending on what you are writing about.

An example using basic tenses past simple and present simple:

I usually go to the movies on Saturday. - This sentence is present simple, present simple is used because the sentence is about something 'I' do again and again ie a habit.

Last week I went to the movies on Friday night. - This sentence is past simple because it is about something that happened in the past and is finished.

These two sentences could be joined together to make one complex sentence -

I usually go to the movies on Saturday but last week I went to the movies on Friday night.

The first clause is present simple and the clause joined by 'but' is in past simple. So this complex sentence has two tenses.

OR

These two sentences could go together in the same piece of writing eg

I usually go to the movies on Saturday but last week I went to the movies on Friday night. I saw 'The Day of the Triffids' and I was too scared to walk home. So I called my brother to pick me up.

Here we have-

present - go, walk, pick up.

past - went, saw, was, called

If writing academic essays such as for/against arguments then it is usual to use one tense so that the meaning of your argument etc is clear eg.

Living in the city has many advantages. First advantage was there are many opportunities for jobs. If you wanted to find a good job close to your home.........

In these sentences the tense changes from present to past and it is confusing. It is better if the verb tense are consistent.

Living in the city has many advantages. First advantage is there are many opportunities for jobs. If you want to find a good job close to your home.........

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