Which sentence is written correctly? Please help me.

Question

1. My mom said that she fell in love with my dad because he always told her she was important to him, spent all of his time after school with her, and she could count on him calling when he said he was going to call.
2. My mom said that she fell in love with my dad because he always told her she was important to him, spent all of his time after school with her, and called when he said he was going to call.
3. My mom said that she fell in love with my dad because he was always telling her she was important to him, spent all of his time after school with her, and called when he said he was going to call.
4. My mom said that she fell in love with my dad because he always told her she was important to him, was spending all of his time after school with her, and called when he said he was going to call.

Answer 1

The second option is the best because it is the only that provides accurate parallel structure. When making a list, all entries of the list need to be in the same form. In option two, all entries are in the past simple ( told / spent / called).

Option one features two entries about the dad (told/spent) and one about mom (she could) which does not honor parallel structure.

Option three has different verb tenses (was always telling / spent / called) which does not honor parallel structure.

Option four also has different verb tenses (told / was spending / called) which does not honor parallel structure.

Thus, option 2 is the correct option.

Answer 2

Nathan, your mom told you of your dad's actions, which had happened in the past.

They were finished in the past.

Thus, the Past Participle of the verb is used:

My mom said that she had fallen in love with my dad because he had always told her she

was important to him; had spent all of his time with her; and had called when he said he would.

Present Tense or form of the verb--fall. Past Tense--fell. Past Participle--fallen.