Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
When you speak, people can ask you what you mean. When you write, they cannot. The tense tells the reader when something happened and whether it is finished.
Tense mistakes are some of the most common errors in B1 writing. In IELTS they affect your Grammatical Range and Accuracy score, and in work emails they can confuse the reader: Did you send the file, or will you send it?
| Tense | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past simple | finished actions at a finished time (yesterday, last week, in 2022, two days ago) | I ordered the shoes two weeks ago. |
| Past continuous | an action in progress at a time in the past; the background to a story | I was walking home when it started to rain. |
| Present perfect | past actions with no finished time (ever, never, already, yet, just) and situations that started in the past and continue now (for, since) | I have lived here since 2019. / The parcel has not arrived yet. |
Ask yourself: Does the sentence have a finished time?
Do not use the present perfect with a finished time: I have called yesterday is wrong.
Use the past continuous for the longer background action and the past simple for the short action that interrupts it.
While usually goes with the longer action (past continuous). When often goes with the short action (past simple).
| Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| will | decisions you make now, offers and promises | I'll call you back in five minutes. / I will send you the report tomorrow. |
| be going to | plans and intentions you already have | I'm going to look for a new job next year. |
| present continuous | arrangements with a fixed time or place | I'm meeting the manager at 3 p.m. on Friday. |
Write an email to a friend. Tell them about a problem you had on a recent journey, what has happened since then, and your plans for your next trip.
Hi Sam,
Sorry I haven't replied to your message yet. I've had a very busy week!
Last Friday I flew back from Lisbon, and it was a disaster. While I was waiting at the airport, the airline announced that my flight was delayed by five hours. Then, when we finally landed, my suitcase didn't arrive. I've called the airline three times since then, and they have already found the bag, but they haven't delivered it yet.
Anyway, I'm going to be more careful next time. I'm flying to Berlin on 12 June, and this time I'm only taking hand luggage! I think I'll also buy travel insurance before I go.
Talk soon,
Nina
Every verb matches its time, so the reader can follow the story easily.
Complete the letter with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. Use the past simple, the past continuous or the present perfect.
Each sentence has one wrong verb form (in bold). Write the correct form in the gap.
You studied English at a language school last year. Write an email to your former teacher, Ms Taylor.
In your email:
Write at least 120 words.
Write at least 120 words · about 15 minutes
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“The past simple is the most common tense in stories.”
“Go is an irregular verb: go, went, gone.”
“The past participle of take is taken.”
“Keep your tenses consistent when you tell a story.”
“A phone call interrupted our dinner.”
“We made an arrangement to meet outside the cinema at seven.”
“My intention is to study abroad next year.”
“There was a two-hour delay at the airport.”
“I only took hand luggage, so I didn't have to wait.”
“Always buy travel insurance before a long trip.”
“I feel more confident when I write emails in English now.”
