4 BASIC TENSES IN IELTS

1

INTRODUCTION

How many tenses are there in English?

Personal pronoun(s)

Noun(s)

Gerund verb

Clause

S _(subject)

V _(verb)

1

I

We

3

2

Basic sentence pattern

He/ She/ It

They

You

INTRODUCTION

My ebook is very useful

My eight ebooks are very useful

Listening to music is my favourite leisure activity

What he has done is incredible.

Singular

Plural

INTRODUCTION

Basic sentence pattern

S _(subject)

V _(verb)

To be

Action verb

INTRODUCTION

Basic sentence pattern

S _(subject)

V _(verb)

1. PRESENT SIMPLE

STRUCTURES

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Structures with “to be”

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Subject + Am/ Is/ Are + …..

STRUCTURES

-

Subject + Am/ Is/ Are + Not …..

Structures with “to be”

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+

Subject + Am/ Is/ Are + …..

STRUCTURES

?

Am/ Is/ Are + Subject + ….. ?

?

What/ When+ Is/ Are + Subject +…..?

Structures with “to be”

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Subject + Am/ Is/ Are + Not …..

+

Subject + Am/ Is/ Are + …..

STRUCTURES

- What ……….. your favourite subjects at school?

- English and Math ……….. my favourite subjects.

- English ……….. my favourite subject.

- Is it easy to learn a new language?

- No, it isn’t.

- Yes, it is. Learning an additional language is easy/ isn’t difficult

Structures with “to be”

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STRUCTURES

+

Subject + Verb + …..

Structures with “action verb”

​

STRUCTURES

-

Subject + do/does not + Verb + …..

Structures with “action verb”

​

Subject + Verb + …..

+

STRUCTURES

?

Do/ Does + Subject + Verb?

?

What/ When + do/does + Subject + Verb?

Structures with “action verb”

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-

Subject + do/does not + Verb + …..

Subject + Verb + …..

+

STRUCTURES

- What ………… you do for a living?

- I ……… (work) as an English teacher. I ….. (teach) them Grammar.

- Do you like your work?

- No, I don’t

- Yes, I do. It is very interesting

Structures with “action verb”

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- What ………… your mother do for a living?

- She ……… (work) as an English teacher. She ….. (teach) them Grammar.

USAGE IN IELTS

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 1: DESCRIBE A FACT

The sun rises in the East

USAGE IN IELTS

The diagram below shows the life cycle of a salmon, from egg to adult fish.

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CASE 1: DESCRIBE A FACT

Writing Task 1 – Describe a process

USAGE IN IELTS

Salmon begin their lives in rivers where the adult fish lay and incubate their eggs. After emerging from eggs, the young salmon spend the next stage of their lives being reared in freshwater areas. Then, at some point in their development, the fish swim downstream to river estuaries where rearing continues.

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CASE 1: DESCRIBE A FACT

I usually wake up at 7 o’clock

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 2: DESCRIBE A HABIT

How often do you go to movie theater?

I usually catch the latest movies at cinema every weekend, of course with my husband.

What type of films do you usually watch?

I often choose science-fiction films because I love space exploration. However, I sometimes buy tickets for a horror movie because my husband likes this type.

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 2: DESCRIBE A HABIT

Speaking part 1 – How often

Listening section 2 – Label a map

When you enter Queen street from City road, go straight until this road joins Customs street. Then, you turn right and go along Customs street to the second lane on the right.

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 3: GIVING DIRECTIONS OR INSTRUCTION

Writing task 1 – Describe a process

The recycling process of glass starts when used glass bottles are gathered and brought to a collection site. Then, they are all purified manually to eliminate any impurities.

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 3: GIVING DIRECTIONS OR INSTRUCTION

A Short History of Private Life is a factual book rather than a novel, so it does not have a plot. Yet, each chapter in the book covers the history of a particular room. For example, the chapter on the kitchen talks about the history of running water, electricity, gas cooking and so on.

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Speaking part 2 – Describe a book / a film

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 4: WHEN TELLING A STORY

CASE 4: WHEN TELLING A STORY

CASE 2: DESCRIBE A HABIT

CASE 1: DESCRIBE A FACT

CASE 3: GIVING DIRECTIONS OR INSTRUCTION

USAGE IN IELTS

4 BASIC TENSES IN IELTS

25

2. PAST SIMPLE

STRUCTURES

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Subject + was/ were + …..

Structures with “to be”

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STRUCTURES

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Subject + was/ were + …..

Structures with “to be”

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?

Was/ Were + Subject + ….. ?

-

Subject + was/ were + not …..

?

What/ When+ was/ were + Subject +…..?

- When ……….. the last time you met your friends?

- It ………... on last Sunday

- Were you happy at that time?

- No, we weren’t.

- Yes, we were. All of us were so excited.

STRUCTURES

Structures with “to be”

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+

Structures with “action verb”

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Subject + Verb _(P1) + …..

Regular

STRUCTURES

Irregular

STRUCTURES

Structures with “action verb”

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Subject + Verb _(P1) + …..

+

Regular

?

Did + Subject + Verb?

-

Subject + did not/ didn’t + Verb + …..

?

What/ When + did + Subject + Verb?

STRUCTURES

Structures with “action verb”

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Subject + Verb _(P1) + …..

+

- When was the last time you met your friends?

- It was on last Sunday.

- Were you happy at that time?

- No, we weren’t.

- Yes, we were. All of us were so excited.

We dined out and then drank coffee.

Unfortunately, it rained and we had to be at home.

STRUCTURES

Structures with “action verb”

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USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 1: A COMPLETED ACTION IN THE PAST

Writing task 1 – Charts/ Maps with past time

There …………(be) a library in the northwestern corner in 2010 picture, but after 6 years, an IT suite …………. (add)

Writing task 1 – Charts/ Maps with past time

In 1995, spending on food ………………(be) highest, at 44%, which nearly ………………. (double) the figure for cars. People …………… (allocate) a tenth of their total expenditure on furniture, which …….…….. (be) followed by 9% for petrol and 7% for restaurants. The percentage of spending on books ……………….. (occupy) 6%, while only 1% went computers.

Spending on different categories

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 1: A COMPLETED ACTION IN THE PAST

Speaking part 1 – Questions about past time

Why did you choose this major?

Because I had a deep passion for English, and I wanted to dig deeper into this language and master it. I also dreamed of sharing my interest in English with other learners.

What did you learn at university?

Most of my subjects were about linguistics, but my teachers also taught us about pedagogic skills, I mean how to convey knowledge effectively and attractively.

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 1: A COMPLETED ACTION IN THE PAST

Speaking part 2 – An event/ experience in the past

Describe a place you visited

You should say:

• Where did you visit?
• Who did you go with?
• What did you do?
• How did you feel?

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 1: A COMPLETED ACTION IN THE PAST

CASE 2: A HABIT IN THE PAST

Writing task 2 – Mostly to give examples

People often had dinner with family members, but because of modern hectic life, they gradually give up this habit.

Used to + verb

USAGE IN IELTS

CASE 2: A HABIT IN THE PAST

CASE 1: A COMPLETED ACTION IN THE PAST

USAGE IN IELTS

3. PRESENT PERFECT

STRUCTURES

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Subject + has/ have + V_P2 …..

42

Regular

STRUCTURES

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Subject + has/ have + V_P2 …..

Irregular

STRUCTURES

+

Subject + has/ have + V_P2 …..

Regular

be > was/ were > been

?

Has/ Have + Subject + V_P2 ….. ?

-

Subject + has/ have + not + V_P2 …..

?

What/ When+ has/ have + S + V_P2?

STRUCTURES

+

Subject + has/ have + V_P2 …..

- How long you (live) there?

- I (live) there for over 10 years.

- Your hometown (change) much since you were a child?

- No, it ……….

- Yes, it ……… My hometown (change) dramatically since then.

STRUCTURES

USAGE IN IELTS

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CASE 1: AN ACTION FROM PAST TO PRESENT

I started learning English in 2003

I have learnt English since 2003

She did homework for 2 hours last night

She has done homework for 2 hours until now

The ground is wet. It has rained

Her eyes are red. She has cried

USAGE IN IELTS

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CASE 2: A PAST ACTION WITH PRESENT RESULT

Since / For

Never

Already

Just

I have learnt English since 2003 / since I was at grade 6

I have learnt English for more than 15 years

I have just bought a new car

Many of my students have already achieved IELTS 6.5

I never like online shopping

I have never bought anything on the Internet

USAGE IN IELTS

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Once / Twice

Three times

Superlative

So far/ until now

Up to now/ since then/ up to present

Yet

I have read this IELTS Reading passage twice

I have come across this word many times

….. but I have not remembered it yet

I moved to Hanoi in 2011 for my university education. I have lived there since then

He is the most dedicated teacher I have ever met

USAGE IN IELTS

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IELTS Speaking – when questions use present perfect tense

USAGE IN IELTS

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- Have you ever travelled abroad?

- Yes, when I was 23 years old and to Korea. Actually, this is the first time I have ever gone to another country. It is such an unforgettable memory.

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- How has your hometown changed recently?

- My hometown has changed a lot in recent years. Not so long ago, most people lived in low-rise housing, but now because of rapid development, there are more high-rise buildings with well-furnished apartments.

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IELTS Writing task 2 – trends from past to present

USAGE IN IELTS

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• Carbon dioxide emissions from cars has caused many harms to the environment.
• The booming of home entertainment technology has changed the way children spend their free time.

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The proportion of people aged

over 65 in the USA has increased over the period shown

IELTS Writing task 1 – trends from past to present

USAGE IN IELTS

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CASE 2: A PAST ACTION WITH PRESENT RESULT

CASE 1: AN ACTION FROM PAST TO PRESENT

USAGE IN IELTS

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4. FUTURE SIMPLE

STRUCTURES

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Subject + will/ shall + V …..

?

Will/ Shall + Subject + V …..

-

Subject + will/ shall + not + V …..

?

What/ When+ will/shall + S + V …..?

STRUCTURES

+

Subject + will/ shall + V …..

- Do you think you ………….(live) there for a long time?

- No, I …………….. (move) to Japan next year.

- What………… (be) the most popular sport in the future?

- I think e-sports……………….. (gain ground)

STRUCTURES

CASE 1: A PREDICTION IN THE FUTURE

I think people will less depend on fossil fuels in the future

I guess learners will achieve higher IELTS band score in years to come

STRUCTURES

STRUCTURES

CASE 2: FIRST CONDITIONAL SENTENCE

If I do not study hard, I will fail in the IELTS exam.

When/ As

Until

As soon as

When children grow up, they will be more aware of their social responsibility

I will visit this city as soon as I save enough money

I will rent this house until I save enough money for an apartment

STRUCTURES

USAGE IN IELTS

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IELTS Speaking – Talk about the future

- How do you think the Internet will affect our lives in the future?

- I think the Internet will probably have a huge impact on our lives. Firstly, I think the Internet will probably replace TV in the future because most channels are already available online. Secondly, online learning will probably become a normal part of life, which means students do have to come to physical schools.

USAGE IN IELTS

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The proportion of people aged

over 65 in the USA has increased over the period shown

IELTS Writing task 1 – Describe numbers in the future

It is predicted that the percentage of elderly people in Japan will rocket to about 27% in 2040.

USAGE IN IELTS

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If they watch a commercial of milk products or candies with catchy music and an image of a milk cow dancing, they will put pressure on parents to buy them things.

IELTS Writing task 2 – Conditional sentence/ Prediction

If high-school leavers take a gap year, they will work or travel to gain more life experiences before choosing their major.

USAGE IN IELTS

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CASE 2: FIRST CONDITIONAL SENTENCE

CASE 1: A PREDICTION IN THE FUTURE