- Level
- Intermediate
- Used in
- Speaking, Email, Discussion
The four tenses you need
| Tense | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | Facts, habits, opinions | I usually study in the evening. |
| Past simple | Finished events at a known time | I moved to Toronto in 2023. |
| Present perfect | Past to now, or no time given | I have taken two online courses. |
| Future (will / going to) | Plans and predictions | I am going to apply next year. |
Past simple or present perfect?
If you say when it happened, use the past simple. If the time is unfinished or not given, use the present perfect.
Not quite
Better
- I have visited London last year.I visited London last year.
- I study English since 2020.I have studied English since 2020.
- Did you ever try online classes?Have you ever tried online classes?
Keep your tense consistent
In Speaking, students often start a story in the past and drift into the present. Pick the tense for your example and stay in it until the story ends.
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