TEACH FOUR SIMPLE TENSES AT A TIME: SOLUTION FOR YOUR LAST MINUTE GRAMMAR STUDY

Learning tenses wasn't as hard as it sounds. Here's a tip for teaching simple tenses (present, past, present continuous, past continuous) in one lesson.

Step 1

• Explain about the time line - past ( things that had happened ), present ( things that happens now ) and continuous ( on going actions in the past or at present time ).

Step 2

• Tenses only apply to verbs or action words such as walk, talk, run etc. and verbs to be (is, are, was, were, am ).

Step 3

• Explain that for past tense, verbs will be changed to 5 different form ( +d, +ed, +ied, changed and not changed )
• For present tense, +e, +es, +ies will be added
• As for continuous - all verbs in a sentences with verb to be ( am, is, are, was, were ) +ing will be added

Step 4

• List down the keywords ( signal words ) for past and present tense ( pls refer to the chart )

Step 5

• Give them 4 different sentences as samples - so that they get clearer picture.

Sample 1 ( Singular subject )

Syafiq walks at the park every morning.

Syafiq walked at the park yesterday.

Syafiq is walking at the park.

Syafiq was walking at the park last Friday.

Sample 2 ( Plural subject )

Syafiq and Mia walk at the park every morning.

Syafiq and Mia walked at the park yesterday.

Syafiq and Mia are walking at the park.

Syafiq and Mia were walking at the park last Friday.

• By now, your pupils should already understand the different tenses. Try asking them to find the keywords ( every and last ) in the sentences and underline the verbs.

Step 6

• Give a few verbs for your pupils and ask them to construct 4 different type of sentences in different form of verbs - like samples given.

Step 7

• Teach your pupils to answer objective questions - to reinforce their understanding. Remember to ask them to find the keywords and subject in the question.

Question:

Ahmad Amaluddin and Burn Hanizan _______________ to the movie last night.

A. go

B. goes

C. going

D. went

Sample analysis:

Ahmad Amaluddin and Burn Hanizan _______________ to the movie last night.

A. go - present (2) (I) (You)

B. goes - present (1) 

C. going - continuous ( is / are / was/ were )

D. went - past tense

Identify the keywords : last night

Identify the subjects : Ahmad Amaluddin and Burn Hanizan ( 2 person )

Now what is the correct answer?

Easy! D is the correct answer. Why? Because last night is past tense signal words ( the keyword ), so the answer ( verb ) must be in past tense form.

Extra Note!

When do I use Has, Have, Had, Do, Does, Did?

I, you, we, they => HAVE (present)

He, she, it => HAS (present)

I, you, we, they, he, she, it => HAD (past)

I, you, we, they => DO (present)

He, she, it => DOES (present)

I, you, we, they, he, she, it => DID (past)

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Now, that's the tips that I can share with you today. Hope you will score excellent marks in tenses questions in your exam. Good luck 6 Beta and 6 Alfa.

From Chemplak with love,

Fitrie Othman