<p>soo confused about verb tenses. Can you have two different verb tenses in the same sentence? e.g The newspaper reported (which is in past tense) that people are (which is in present tense) still having trouble finding jobs. Also, is it "She was drying the dishes while the phone rang." as opposed to "She dried the dishes while the phone rang."? Last question, with the verb protest, do you usually have to use a preposition after the verb? e.g We protested about... or just we protested?</p>
<p>I'm not sure about the verb tenses thing, but in the second sentence, it should be WHEN not WHILE, so that probably is the error in the sentence.</p>
<p>The newspaper reported that people were still having trouble finding jobs.</p>
<p>She was drying the dishes when the phone rang.</p>
<p>She was drying the dishes while the phone was ringing.</p>
<p>Protest is followed by either for or against.</p>