Final answer:
The sentence "We went somewhere" is recognized as a past sentence because it uses the past tense verb "went". Consistent verb tenses ensure clarity in communication, and changing verb tenses can cause confusion in the narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence "We went somewhere" indicates a past action because it uses the past tense verb "went". The verb "went" is the simple past tense of the verb "go", which signifies that the action of going occurred in the past. Consistent use of verb tenses within a narrative or description helps maintain clarity for the reader. For example, in the sentence "I went across the road and bought a pair of shoes," both verbs ("went" and "bought") are in the past tense, indicating that both actions are completed in the past. Changing the tense without a valid reason can lead to confusion, as seen in another example where maintaining the past tense throughout the sentence preserves the time frame of the actions described ("Your mother and I were just traveling through Africa."). Therefore, recognizing and using verb tenses correctly is crucial for clear communication.