All Tenses: A1–A2
Talk about everyday life, finished events, experiences and plans.
I can choose the main A1–A2 verb forms to talk about everyday life, the past and the future.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start
One person, four times
Say one thing you do every week, one thing you are doing today, one thing you did yesterday and one plan for tomorrow. Real or invented details are both fine.
Possible response
I cook most evenings. Today I’m making soup. Yesterday I bought tomatoes. Tomorrow I’m going to make bread.
Did your verb forms change when the time or meaning changed?
Learn
Use this as a quick map. Read the time and meaning before choosing a form. The four short sections below show how the forms work together.
Tense map: forms, meanings and examples
Present simple: be
I am; he/she/it is; you/we/they are
Who, what or where someone or something is.
I’m at home.
Present simple: other verbs
I/you/we/they work; he/she/it works
Routines, facts and states.
I cook at home most evenings.
Present continuous
am/is/are + verb-ing
An action in progress or a temporary situation.
I’m making soup now.
Past simple: be
I/he/she/it was; you/we/they were
A situation at a finished past time.
We were at the market yesterday.
Past simple: other verbs
verb-ed or irregular past form
A finished event or past routine.
I bought tomatoes yesterday.
Past continuous
was/were + verb-ing
An action in progress at a past moment.
At six yesterday, I was making soup.
Present perfect simple
have/has + past participle
An experience before now or a past event connected to now.
I’ve never made bread.
Be going to
am/is/are going to + base verb
An intention or a prediction from present evidence.
I’m going to make bread on Saturday.
Will
will + base verb
A decision now, an offer, a promise or a prediction.
I’ll help you with that bag.
Present continuous: future arrangement
am/is/are + verb-ing + future context
A personal arrangement already made.
I’m meeting Ali at ten tomorrow.
Present simple: timetable
present simple + future context
A scheduled event such as a departure or opening time.
The market opens at nine tomorrow.
- A base verb is a form such as work, go or see. A past participle can be regular (worked) or irregular (gone, seen, made).
- Present and past be are part of the simple tenses. Future arrangements and timetables reuse the present forms; they are not extra tenses.
- Time words help, but the full meaning matters. You can sometimes describe the same future event in more than one natural way.
1. Usually, now or this week?
Use the present simple for routines and facts: what happens regularly or what is true. Use the present continuous for an action in progress now or a temporary situation around now. Be can stand alone: I am tired. With another verb, the continuous needs both parts: I am working. Some common state verbs, such as know, like and want, normally use the simple form for these meanings. Say I know the answer, even when you mean right now.
Form help
- Other verbs: She works. She doesn’t work. Does she work? After does or doesn’t, use the base verb. With I/you/we/they, use do or don’t.
- Be: I’m not tired. He isn’t tired. They aren’t tired. Am I late? Is he late? Are they late? Do not add do.
- Continuous: She isn’t working. Is she working? Put not after am/is/are; put am/is/are before the subject in a question.
I usually eat at home, but this week I’m eating with my sister.
The first part gives a routine; the second gives a temporary change.
Does Ben like coffee? Yes, he does, but he isn’t drinking it now.
Like describes a preference; is drinking describes an action in progress.
You say
You usually walk to work. Today you are on a bus. Say two sentences, then ask your tutor or an imaginary friend about their usual journey.
Possible response
I usually walk to work, but today I’m taking the bus. How do you usually get to work?
Check: Use the present simple for the routine and am plus an -ing form for today’s change.
Try again: Change the usual journey and say the contrast again.
2. What happened, and what was in progress?
Use the past simple for finished events and situations at a past time. Regular verbs usually end in -ed; irregular verbs change differently: go becomes went, buy becomes bought. Use the past continuous to show an action in progress at a past moment. You can combine them: an activity was in progress when another event happened. Be has its own past forms, was and were. For other past-simple verbs, use did or didn’t plus the base verb in questions and negatives.
Form help
- Past simple: She went. She didn’t go. Did she go? Use did with every subject; do not write did she went.
- Past be: He wasn’t there. We weren’t there. Was he there? Were you there? Do not add did.
- Past continuous: I wasn’t sleeping. Were they sleeping? Was/were carries the past form; the main verb keeps -ing.
We were at home last night. Were you at home too?
Was and were describe a past situation and form their own questions.
I was cooking when the doorbell rang.
Cooking was already in progress; rang introduces the event during it.
You say
At eight yesterday, you were washing the dishes. Your phone rang. Say what was happening and what happened. Then say you did not answer it.
Possible response
I was washing the dishes when my phone rang. I didn’t answer it.
Check: Use was washing for the activity, rang for the event and didn’t answer for the negative.
Try again: Change the activity and tell the short story again.
3. Before now, or at a finished past time?
Use have or has plus a past participle to connect the past to now. For experience, ask Have you ever…? and use never for no experience before now. Just means a short time ago; already means before now or sooner than expected; yet often asks whether something has happened by now or says it has not. When you give a finished past time, such as last Saturday, use the past simple for that event. You can move from an experience to the date it happened.
Form help
- Forms: I have seen it. She has seen it. I haven’t seen it. Has she seen it? The past participle stays the same.
- Compare: I’ve tried sushi. I tried it last Saturday. Have you ever been to Rome? When did you go?
- Recent results: I’ve just arrived. She’s already eaten. Have you finished yet? I haven’t finished yet.
Have you ever tried mango ice cream? No, I haven’t.
The question asks about experience before now, without naming a finished past time.
I’ve just made tea, but I haven’t added milk yet.
The tea is ready now; adding the milk is still unfinished.
You say
You ate sushi last Saturday. It was your first time. Tell a friend about your experience, then say when it happened.
Possible response
I’ve tried sushi. I tried it for the first time last Saturday.
Check: Use present perfect for the experience, then past simple with last Saturday.
Try again: Change the food and the finished past time.
4. Plans, arrangements and decisions
Choose a future form that matches your meaning. Be going to often presents a plan decided before speaking; it can also predict something from present evidence. Will often presents a decision now, an offer, a promise or a prediction. The present continuous can describe a personal arrangement, and the present simple can give a timetable. These uses can overlap, so ask what the speaker wants to show. A future time expression, such as tomorrow, helps listeners understand a present form as future.
Form help
- Plan: I’m going to call her tonight. Evidence now: Look at those dark clouds. It’s going to rain.
- Offer or promise: I’ll carry it. I won’t forget. Question: Will you come? Going to uses be: Are you going to come?
- Arrangement: I’m meeting Jo tomorrow. Timetable: The train leaves at six. In ordinary future time or condition clauses, use the present: I’ll call when I arrive. If it rains, we’ll stay inside.
We’re going to visit the beach. We’re meeting at the station at nine.
The first sentence gives an intention; the second gives an arrangement.
That bag looks heavy. I’ll carry it for you.
The speaker offers help at the moment of speaking.
You say
You have a plan for Saturday and an arrangement with a friend. Say both. Then offer to help the friend with something.
Possible response
I’m going to make lunch on Saturday. I’m meeting Eva at the market at ten. I’ll carry her shopping bag.
Check: Use going to for the plan, present continuous for the arrangement and will for your offer.
Try again: Change the plan and meeting place.
Practise · 8 min
Choose it, change it, say it
Try the eight items. For a short answer, say or type your sentence before revealing the model. Equivalent correct wording is welcome; this practice does not contribute to the final score.
Choose the routine plus the temporary situation: Mina ___ at a hotel, but she ___ at her sister’s flat this week.
works / is staying Works gives her usual workplace; is staying gives her temporary accommodation this week.Answer and explanation
Make this sentence negative. Keep Leo as the subject: Leo drives to work.
Leo doesn’t drive to work. Use doesn’t or does not plus the base verb drive. The -s belongs in drives only without does.Answer and explanation
Make a yes/no question: The café was open yesterday.
Was the café open yesterday? Move was before the subject. Be does not need did.Answer and explanation
Use the past continuous to put us in the middle of the activity: At eight last night, we ___ a film.
were watching Were watching presents the activity in progress at eight. Watched could describe a completed viewing, but the task asks for the activity in progress.Answer and explanation
Correct the verb form without changing the meaning: I have never saw snow.
I have never seen snow. The present perfect needs the past participle seen. Saw is the past-simple form.Answer and explanation
Choose the word meaning a short time ago: I’ve ___ sent the email. I sent it two minutes ago.
just Just means a short time ago. The second sentence gives the finished past time with sent.Answer and explanation
A friend says, “This box is heavy.” Use will to offer help now.
I’ll carry it for you. I’ll carry it offers help now. The other choices report past information.Answer and explanation
Make a yes/no question about this arrangement: You are meeting Ana tomorrow.
Are you meeting Ana tomorrow? Move are before you. Present continuous can ask about an arranged future meeting.Answer and explanation
Listen · 6 min
Kim’s busy weekend
Listen once for the main story, then answer four questions. Listen again to the same recording if needed. Open the transcript and explanations after your first attempt.
Read the transcript
Hi, I’m Kim. I work in a bookshop, but I’m helping my brother at his café today. Yesterday we were very busy. At lunchtime, I was carrying two drinks when a customer dropped a spoon. I stopped and picked it up. I’ve never worked in a café before, but I’ve already learned how to make hot chocolate. I haven’t made any coffee yet. Tomorrow I’m meeting my friend Jo at the station. Her train arrives at ten. We decided yesterday that we’re going to visit the beach. If it rains, we’ll go to a museum instead. Jo has just sent me a message: she has a big bag. I’ve told her, “I’ll help you with it.” For now, I’m going back to the café. My brother is waiting for me.
Where does Kim usually work?
At a bookshop. Work gives Kim’s usual job. Is helping describes today’s temporary activity. From the passage: I work in a bookshop, but I’m helping my brother at his café today.Answer and explanation
What was in progress when the customer dropped the spoon?
Kim was carrying two drinks. Was carrying gives the activity in progress. Dropped is the event that happened during it. From the passage: I was carrying two drinks when a customer dropped a spoon.Answer and explanation
What has Kim not done up to the time of the recording?
Made coffee. Haven’t made any coffee yet says this has not happened up to now. The other events have happened. From the passage: I haven’t made any coffee yet.Answer and explanation
Which future event has a scheduled time of ten o’clock?
Jo’s train arrives. Arrives is present simple with a future timetable meaning. Tomorrow in the preceding sentence sets the time. From the passage: Tomorrow I’m meeting my friend Jo at the station. Her train arrives at ten.Answer and explanation
Quiz and correction · 9 min
Choose one answer for each question. Follow the meaning or form requested. Submit all ten answers to see your score and the explanations, then review any missed items.
Speak · 7 min
Your week, in different times
Choose real or invented details. Spend about three minutes on each task, including a first attempt, a quick comparison with the model and one improved attempt. Use the last minute for one useful correction.
Task 1
Describe an ordinary day and something different this week. Then tell a short story about yesterday: include a past situation, an activity in progress and one event during it. Aim for five or six short sentences.
- Most days, I…
- This week, I’m…
- Yesterday, I was…
- I was… when…
Possible response
Most days, I work at home. This week, I’m working with a friend. Yesterday, we were at her flat. I was reading an email when someone knocked on the door. My friend opened it. Her brother brought us lunch.
- Did I use the present simple for the routine?
- Did I use a continuous form for a temporary or ongoing activity?
- Did I use past simple for the events in my story?
Try again with one improvement.
Task 2
Talk about an experience and say when it happened. Then give one future plan, one arrangement and one offer or promise. Aim for five or six short sentences.
- I’ve… before. / I’ve never…
- I… last…
- I’m going to…
- I’m meeting…
- I’ll…
Possible response
I’ve visited the coast before. I went there last summer. I’m going to visit again this weekend. I’m meeting my cousin at the bus station on Saturday morning. The bus leaves at nine. I’ll bring some food for the journey.
- Did I use a past participle after have or has?
- Did I use past simple with the finished past time?
- Can I explain which future sentence is a plan, arrangement or offer?
Try again with one improvement.
Recap
- Use present simple for routines, facts and states; use present continuous for actions in progress and temporary situations.
- Use past simple for finished past events and situations; use past continuous for an activity in progress at a past moment.
- Use present perfect to connect an experience or past event to now; use past simple when you give its finished past time.
- Match the future form to the meaning: a plan, arrangement, timetable, decision, promise or prediction.
- Check the helper verb: do, does and did take a base verb; continuous forms need be; present perfect needs have or has plus a past participle.
Start with I study every day. Now make four short sentences: one about now, one about yesterday, one about experience and one about a plan for tomorrow.
Possible response
I’m studying now. I studied yesterday. I’ve studied French before. I’m going to study tomorrow.