Teaching verb tenses can feel overwhelming, as it can be challenging for ESL students to differentiate between past, present, and future forms. However, by focusing on practical, engaging strategies, tutors can help students build confidence and fluency. Let’s look at effective methods for teaching verb tenses.
Teach in Context, Not Isolation
Traditional grammar instruction often focuses on rules and drills, but adult learners benefit more from learning tenses in context. Instead of starting with technical explanations, introduce verb tenses through real-life scenarios that students can relate to.
How to Teach Tenses in Context:
Use personal experiences – Encourage students to talk about their daily routines, past experiences, and future plans.
Incorporate dialogues – Present verb tenses within conversations, rather than isolated sentences.
Use storytelling – Ask students to narrate past events, describe present situations, or predict future outcomes.
Example Conversation:
Tutor: “Tell me about your last vacation.” (Past tense)
Student: “I went to Mexico last year. I stayed in a hotel near the beach.”
Tutor: “And what do you usually do on vacation?” (Present tense)
Student: “I relax and swim. Sometimes I go sightseeing.”
Tutor: “Where do you think you will go next?” (Future tense)
Student: “I will visit my sister in Canada.”
This kind of interactive dialogue naturally reinforces tense distinctions without overwhelming learners with technical grammar explanations.
Use a Timeline to Show Time Relationships
Many adult learners struggle with the abstract concept of time in relation to verb tenses. A simple visual timeline can clarify when different tenses are used.
How to Use a Timeline Effectively:
Draw a horizontal timeline on the board.
Mark past, present, and future points.
Write example sentences on the timeline to show when each tense is used.
Example Timeline:
Past Simple – “I visited my friend yesterday.”
Present Perfect – “I have visited my friend before.”
Future (will/going to) – “I will visit my friend next week.”
Visual representations help learners see the relationship between actions and time, reinforcing tense usage.
Focus on High-Frequency Tenses First
English has many tenses, but most conversations rely on just a few. Prioritize the most useful ones before introducing more complex structures.
Key tenses to focus on first:
Present Simple – I work. / He works.
Present Continuous – I am working.
Past Simple – I worked.
Future (will/going to) – I will work. / I am going to work.
Once students feel comfortable with these foundational tenses, introduce variations like present perfect and past continuous.
Teach Tenses in Contrasts for Clarity
Comparing similar tenses helps students see their differences and uses more clearly.
Common tense contrasts to teach:
Past Simple vs. Present Perfect
- I ate breakfast this morning. (Completed action)
- I have eaten breakfast. (Past action affecting the present)
Present Simple vs. Present Continuous
- She speaks Spanish. (General fact)
- She is speaking Spanish. (Right now)
Will vs. Going to (Future Tense)
- I will call you later. (Spontaneous decision)
- I am going to call you later. (Planned action)
By highlighting these contrasts with examples, learners develop a clearer sense of when to use each tense.
Encourage Storytelling and Personal Narratives
One of the best ways to practice verb tenses naturally is through storytelling. Ask students to describe past events, daily routines, or future plans using specific tenses.
Example activities:
Past Tense Story: Have students write a short story about their childhood using past simple.
Daily Routine Discussion: Students describe their daily habits using the present simple.
Future Predictions: Students make predictions about their lives in five years using future tense.
Storytelling makes tense practice meaningful and memorable.
Incorporate Real-Life Role-Plays
Adults learn best when they see how grammar applies to real-world situations. Use role-plays to practice tenses in practical contexts.
Examples:
Making an appointment (future tense) → “I will see the doctor on Monday.”
Talking about past experiences (past tense) → “I worked in a restaurant for five years.”
Describing a routine (present tense) → “I wake up at 6 AM and go to work at 8 AM.”
Role-plays encourage active use of tenses and boost confidence in real-world communication.
Provide Plenty of Practice with Feedback
Regular practice and corrective feedback are essential for mastering tenses.
Effective practice techniques:
Fill-in-the-blank exercises – Reinforce sentence structure.
Speaking drills – Have students respond to questions using different tenses.
Peer correction – Pair students to check each other’s tense usage.
Guided conversations – Encourage students to describe past events, present habits, and future plans.
Giving corrective feedback in a supportive way helps learners self-correct and gain confidence.
Make Learning Fun with Games and Technology
Adding interactive elements to lessons makes grammar practice more engaging.
Fun ways to practice tenses:
Verb Tense Bingo – Call out sentences, and students mark the tense on their bingo cards.
Online Quizzes – Use platforms like Kahoot, Quizizz, or Duolingo for interactive practice.
Story-Building Games – Start a story and have each student add a sentence using a different tense.
Gamification boosts motivation and helps reinforce grammar in a low-pressure environment.
Final Thoughts
Mastering verb tenses takes time, but with engaging, real-life applications, adult ESL learners can gain confidence and accuracy. By focusing on context, using visuals, and incorporating fun, interactive methods, tutors can make learning verb tenses easier and more effective.
Resources
Fluent U: A link to a blog post about different apps and games you can use with students to help boost verb tense lessons
Bingo Baker: A website that generates bingo cards. This link is for verb tense bingo cards. You can print, download, and use these cards during zoom classes.
