Practice verb tenses to score high in the IELTS test

If you are planning to study, work or migrate to an English-speaking country, then it is mandatory for you to prove your English language proficiency by taking a test such as the International English language testing system (IELTS). Also, it is important to prepare well for the same. Therefore, one of the crucial things is understanding and correctly using verb tenses is a crucial aspect of the IELTS test .

The ability to use different verb tenses accurately and appropriately demonstrates a strong command of the English language. In the IELTS test, you are expected to prove your proficiency in using various tenses, such as the present, past, future, and perfect tenses, to convey information effectively and express ideas with clarity. Practicing verb tenses not only improves one's communication skills but also plays a significant role in achieving a high score on the IELTS test. Let’s explore the correct verb tenses which will help you score higher on your IELTS test.

What are verb tenses?

Verb tenses are linguistic tools used in grammar to express the time of an action, event, or state described by a verb. They enable speakers and writers to convey whether an action is happening in the present, has occurred in the past, or will happen in the future. English commonly uses three primary tenses: present (e.g., "I walk"), past (e.g., "I walked"), and future (e.g., "I will walk"). Each tense can further be divided into simple, continuous, perfect, or perfect continuous forms, adding variation to the timing and duration of the action. By using different verb tenses, you can effectively communicate the temporal context of your messages, improving clarity and precision in communication.

Verb tenses: Present, past, future

Here are the different verb tenses with explanations and examples so you understand them better and can use them correctly in your IELTS test.

Present tense

Present tense is a grammatical form used to describe actions, events, or conditions that are happening right now or are generally true and ongoing. It refers to actions or states that exist in the present time or habitual actions that occur regularly. In English, regular verbs in the present tense typically end in "-s" in the third person singular form (e.g., "he runs," "she sings"), while the base form is used for other persons (e.g., "I run," "you sing"). The present tense is used to discuss current situations, express general truths, and describe habitual actions.

1. Present simple: The present simple tense refers to events, actions, and conditions that are habitual, occur regularly, or are generally true at the current moment.

Example: "He swims every day."

2. Present continuous: The present continuous tense is used for actions happening right now or for actions that are currently in progress or unfinished. It can also describe temporary actions.

Example: "I am swimming in my neighbour’s pool now."

3. Present perfect: The present perfect tense is used for actions that started in the past and continue up to the present moment. It emphasises the connection between the past and the present.

Example: "They have swum in the sea countless times."

4. Present perfect continuous: The present perfect continuous tense shows that an action started in the past and is still ongoing in the present moment. It emphasises the duration or continuous nature of the action.

Example: "She has been swimming since she was 7 years old."

Note: Each of these tenses conveys different aspects of time and helps provide a clear understanding of the timing and duration of the actions or events being described.

Past tense

Past tense is a grammatical form used to describe actions, events, or conditions that have already happened in the past. It indicates that something occurred and was completed before the present moment. In English, regular verbs typically form the past tense by adding "-ed" to the base form (e.g., "walked," "played"), while irregular verbs have unique past tense forms (e.g., "went," "ate"). The past tense allows us to discuss and narrate past events or experiences.

1. Past simple: The past simple tense is used to describe an event or action that occurred in the past.

Example: "Yesterday, I swam 10 laps."

2. Past continuous: The past continuous tense describes a continuing action or event that took place in the past, often with a sense of interruption.

Example: "I was swimming with David last night when Bob arrived."

3. Past perfect: The past perfect tense is used to clarify that one event happened before another in the past.

Example: "I had swum the breaststroke before I turned 8."

4. Past perfect continuous: The past perfect continuous tense indicates that an action started in the past and continued up until another time in the past.

Example: "I had been swimming for many years before Priya picked up the sport."

Note: Each of these past tenses serves to express different aspects of time relationships between events or actions that occurred in the past.

Future tense

Future tense is a grammatical form used to describe actions, events, or conditions that are anticipated or expected to occur in the future, after the present moment. It allows speakers and writers to discuss upcoming events, plans, or possibilities that have not happened yet but are likely to happen later. In English, the future tense is typically formed using the auxiliary verb "will" be followed by the base form of the main verb (e.g., "will swim," "will see"). There are also other future forms, like the future continuous, future perfect, and future perfect continuous, each conveying different aspects of timing and completion in relation to future events.

1. Future simple: The future simple tense describes things that haven't happened yet at the present time but are expected or likely to occur in the future.

Example: "I will swim more than 10 laps tomorrow."

2. Future continuous: The future continuous tense is used for actions or events that will be in progress or unfinished in the future, and it indicates the expected duration of the action.

Example: "I will be swimming in the new Olympic-sized swimming pool on Friday."

3. Future perfect: The future perfect tense is used for actions that will be completed between the present and a specific point in the future.

Example: "I will have swum at least 1000km by the end of the year."

4. Future perfect continuous: The future perfect continuous tense describes actions that will continue up until a certain point in the future, emphasising their ongoing nature.

Example: "By noon today, I will have been swimming for 2 hours."

Note: Each of these future tenses helps to express different aspects of events or actions that are expected to happen in the future, with variations in timing and completion.

Verb tenses play an important role in the IELTS test and are a crucial aspect of demonstrating language proficiency. Mastering verb tenses not only showcases an understanding of grammar but also enhances your ability to express ideas accurately and coherently. By using a variety of verb tenses appropriately, you can effectively convey your thoughts and opinions, resulting in a high score on the IELTS test . Therefore, it is essential for you to dedicate time and effort to practice and improve your command of verb tenses to succeed in the IELTS test.

Additionally, if you want to know more about the IELTS test you can visit to your nearest IDP IELTS test centres .

Read more:

• Passive voice for IELTS test

Book my test