Understanding and using different tenses correctly is a crucial part of mastering intermediate-level English. At the B1 level, learners are expected to have a good grasp of the present, past, and future tenses, along with their various forms and uses. This knowledge helps in expressing ideas more clearly and accurately in both spoken and written communication.
Present Tenses
The present tenses are used to describe actions or situations that are currently happening or are generally true. The two main present tenses are the Present Simple and the Present Continuous.
Present Simple
The Present Simple tense is used for habitual actions, general truths, and fixed arrangements. For example:
- I go to school every day.
- Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
- The train leaves at 6 PM.
In negative sentences, use 'do not' (don't) or 'does not' (doesn't) before the base verb:
- She does not like coffee.
- We do not play football on Sundays.
Present Continuous
The Present Continuous tense is used for actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for temporary situations. For example:
- She is studying for her exams right now.
- They are staying at a hotel this week.
In negative sentences, use 'am not', 'is not' (isn't), or 'are not' (aren't) before the verb ending in -ing:
- I am not watching TV at the moment.
- He isn't playing the piano now.
Past Tenses
Past tenses are used to talk about actions or situations that happened in the past. The main past tenses at the intermediate level are the Past Simple and the Past Continuous.
Past Simple
The Past Simple tense is used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. For example:
- We visited the museum last weekend.
- She watched a movie yesterday.
In negative sentences, use 'did not' (didn't) before the base verb:
- They didn't finish their homework.
- I didn't see him at the party.
Past Continuous
The Past Continuous tense is used for actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. For example:
- She was reading a book when I called her.
- We were having dinner at 8 PM last night.
In negative sentences, use 'was not' (wasn't) or 'were not' (weren't) before the verb ending in -ing:
- I wasn't listening when he spoke.
- They weren't playing football at that time.
Future Tenses
Future tenses are used to talk about actions or situations that will happen in the future. The main future tenses at this level are the Future Simple and the 'going to' form.
Future Simple
The Future Simple tense is used for predictions, spontaneous decisions, or promises. For example:
- I will call you tomorrow.
- It will rain next week.
In negative sentences, use 'will not' (won't) before the base verb:
- She won't attend the meeting.
- We won't go to the beach.
'Going to' Form
The 'going to' form is used for planned actions or intentions and predictions based on evidence. For example:
- They are going to visit their grandparents next weekend.
- Look at those clouds! It is going to rain.
In negative sentences, use 'am not going to', 'is not going to' (isn't going to), or 'are not going to' (aren't going to) before the base verb:
- I am not going to eat that cake.
- He isn't going to join us for lunch.
