Using English Verb Tenses
Using English Verb Tenses
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Using English Verb Tenses
Open the lesson as a practical revision lesson: the aim is not to memorise every rule at once, but to choose the right tense for meaning.
Our learning goal
I can choose and use the correct English verb tense for meaning, time and context.
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One word or phrase about English verb tenses
Use this as a quick activation after the learning goal. Invite students to add tense names, time words, or feelings such as 'confusing' or 'useful'.
Why tenses matter
Verb tenses show:
when something happens
how long it happens
if it is finished or still continuing
how one time connects to another time
Keep the focus on meaning, not only form. Adult B1+ learners often know tense names but still choose the wrong tense because they miss the time relationship.
Three time frames
English tenses are often built around three main time frames:
present
past
future
Each time frame can show a simple action, a continuing action, a finished result, or both duration and result.
This slide gives the map for the lesson. Avoid overloading students with terminology here; the next slides organise the patterns.
Four common aspect patterns
Across present, past and future, English often uses these patterns:
simple – facts, habits, completed events
continuous – actions in progress
perfect – a link between two times
perfect continuous – duration up to a time
If useful, briefly explain that 'aspect' describes how we see the action, but the students do not need to remember the word perfectly.
A quick tense map
Present → now, routines, life experience
Past → finished time before now
Future → plans, predictions, arrangements
The tense choice depends on the speaker's meaning, not only on one time word.
Useful reminder: the same future meaning can be expressed in more than one way, so this lesson should build choice and contrast.
Which pattern shows an action in progress?
perfect
simple
continuous
future
Checks the tense map from slides 2 to 5. 'Future' is included as a likely confusion with time frame versus aspect pattern.
Complete the tense map
English tenses often use three time frames: present, past and future. Across them, common patterns include simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous.
Reinforces the basic organising map before students move into individual tense families.
Present simple
Use it for:
routines and habits
facts and general truths
timetables
Example: She works in London.
You may contrast this with present continuous using temporary vs regular actions.
Present continuous
Use it for:
actions happening now
temporary situations
changing situations
arranged future plans
Example: I am working from home this week.
Point out that present continuous does not usually fit with stative verbs such as know, like, believe, need.
Present perfect
Use it when the past connects to now:
life experience
recent news
unfinished time
present result
Example: They have finished the report.
Stress the idea of connection to now. This is usually more helpful than listing signal words alone.
Present perfect continuous
Use it for an activity that started in the past and continues now, or has a present result.
Example: He has been studying for two hours.
It often focuses on duration or activity.
Contrast with present perfect simple: 'I have read the book' focuses on completion; 'I have been reading the book' focuses on the ongoing activity.
Present tense contrasts
Use simple forms
usual actions
facts
completed result
Use continuous forms
actions in progress
temporary actions
focus on duration
You can also add a second contrast: present simple vs present perfect. Present simple = always/usually true; present perfect = something before now with a link to now.
Which sentence shows a temporary situation?
She works in London.
The train leaves at 7.30.
I am working from home this week.
They have finished the report.
Targets the contrast between present simple and present continuous. The correct option echoes the lesson example for a temporary action.
Complete the present tense summary
Present simple is used for routines and facts. Present continuous is used for actions happening now and for temporary situations. Present perfect links the past to now.
The repeated word 'now' is intentional because both ideas connect to the present, but each blank position is fixed by meaning.
When do we use present perfect?
Expected ideas: present simple for routines or facts; present continuous for actions in progress or temporary situations; present perfect for past with a link to now; present perfect continuous for duration or ongoing activity up to now.
Past simple
Use it for:
finished actions in the past
actions at a specific past time
main events in a story
Example: We visited Madrid last year.
Emphasise that a finished past time often goes with past simple: yesterday, last week, in 2019.
Past continuous
Use it for:
an action in progress in the past
background description
a longer action interrupted by another action
Example: I was cooking when she called.
Show the contrast clearly: past continuous sets the scene; past simple gives the interrupting event.
Past perfect
Use it when one past action happened before another past action.
Example: They had left before I arrived.
It helps make the order of past events clear.
Adult learners often overuse past perfect. Remind them it is only needed when the earlier past action must be made clear.
Past perfect continuous
Use it for a longer activity that continued up to a point in the past.
Example: She had been working there for five years before she moved.
It focuses on duration before a past moment.
Compare with past perfect simple: result/completion vs ongoing duration before another past time.
Past tense contrasts
Past simple: finished event
Past continuous: action in progress in the past
Past perfect: earlier past event
Past perfect continuous: duration before a past point
A timeline on the board can help here. Keep examples short and connected to adult life: work, travel, family, study.
Which tense shows an earlier past action?
past simple
past perfect
past continuous
present perfect
Checks the key contrast from slides 11 to 15: one past action before another past action.
Complete the past tense contrast
Past simple shows a finished event. Past continuous shows an action in progress in the past. Past perfect shows an earlier past event. Past perfect continuous shows duration before a past point.
Uses the exact contrast language from the summary slide so students focus on meaning, not new wording.
Ways to talk about the future
English uses different forms for future meaning.
Common choices are:
will
be going to
present continuous
future continuous / perfect forms
Important point: English has several future forms rather than one single future tense.
Will and be going to
Will often shows:
instant decisions
predictions
offers or promises
Be going to often shows:
plans or intentions
predictions based on evidence
Keep 'often' rather than 'always'. Real use overlaps, but this distinction is very useful at B1+.
Present forms for future meaning
We can also use present forms for the future:
present continuous for arrangements
present simple for timetables and schedules
Examples:
I am meeting Sam tomorrow.
The train leaves at 7.30.
This slide helps learners see that future meaning is about context, not only a future marker.
Future continuous and future perfect
Future continuous: an action will be in progress at a future time.
Example: This time tomorrow, I will be flying home.
Future perfect: an action will be finished before a future time.
Example: By June, we will have completed the course.
If time allows, briefly mention future perfect continuous, but do not overload the slide. The main value here is recognising advanced future meaning.
Choosing the future form
Meaning → likely form
plan already made → be going to / present continuous
schedule → present simple
prediction or quick decision → will
action in progress later → future continuous
This summary slide should feel practical: learners choose the form by the message they want to send.
Which form is best for a quick decision?
will
be going to
present simple
past continuous
Tests the practical future choice rule from slides 16 to 20.
Complete the future choices
For a plan already made, English often uses be going to or present continuous. For a timetable, it often uses present simple. For a prediction or quick decision, it often uses will.
Summarises the decision-making chart rather than isolated rules.
How do you choose a future form?
Expected ideas: choose the future form by meaning and context; for example, arrangement, schedule, prediction, plan, or action in progress later.
Time words can help
Some time words often appear with certain tenses:
every day → present simple
now / at the moment → continuous forms
already / yet / since / for → perfect forms
by → often perfect forms
Warn students not to depend only on signal words. Meaning and context still decide the tense.
Stative and dynamic verbs
Some verbs are usually not used in continuous forms.
Examples: know, like, believe, need, understand
We usually say:
I know the answer.
Not usually: I am knowing the answer.
This is a key revision point because continuous forms are often overgeneralised by learners.
Typical tense problems
Common mistakes include:
using present simple for actions happening now
mixing past simple and present perfect
using will for every future idea
using continuous forms with stative verbs
You can personalise these based on the learners' previous errors if known.
Meaning comes first
To choose the correct tense, ask:
Is the action finished or unfinished?
Is it connected to now?
Is it temporary or regular?
Is it before, during or after another time?
This slide resolves the central idea of the lesson: tense choice is a meaning choice.
Which verb is not usually continuous?
working
meeting
flying
know
Checks understanding of stative verbs from slide 22 and links to common mistakes on slide 23.
Complete the final reminder
Time words can help, but meaning comes first. Ask if the action is finished or unfinished, if it is connected to now, and if it is temporary or regular.
This anchors the lesson's main message from slides 21 to 24: students should not rely only on signal words.
What question helps you choose a tense?
Discussion prompt. Listen for references to finished/unfinished, connection to now, temporary/regular, and before/during/after another time.
What will you remember from this lesson?
Exit ticket reflection. Encourage a short answer about a tense, contrast, or rule that became clearer.
What helped you understand tenses best?
Exit ticket reflection. Students can mention examples, contrasts, timelines, or summary slides.
Which tense still feels hardest?
Exit ticket reflection. Use answers to identify which tense family needs more practice next lesson.
Glossary
tense - a verb form that shows time
aspect - the way an action is seen, for example as finished or continuing
present simple - a form for routines, facts and timetables
present continuous - a form for actions happening now or temporary situations
present perfect - a form that links the past to now
past simple - a form for finished past actions
future meaning - ways to talk about what happens after now
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Glossary
continuous - a form that shows an action in progress
perfect - a form that connects one time to another time
duration - how long something continues
arrangement - a plan that has already been organised
schedule - a fixed plan such as a timetable
stative verb - a verb usually not used in continuous forms
context - the situation that helps show the correct meaning
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