ESL Grammar: PAST TENSE (11) – Past Tense vs. Present Tense

In this ESL grammar lesson, students choose the correct verb form (past tense or present tense) to complete each sentence. Students must choose the correct verb form based on the context of the sentences.

ESL Grammar: Understanding Present Tense and Past Tense

Present Tense:

• The present tense describes actions or events that are currently happening or habitual actions.
• Examples:
  • I eat breakfast every day.
  • She works at the hospital.

Past Tense:

• The past tense describes actions or events that have already happened.
• Examples:
  • I ate breakfast yesterday.
  • She worked at the hospital last year.

The English grammar lesson below reviews the present tense and past tense by having choose the correct verb form based on the context of the sentences. Our series of ESL grammar lessons on subjects and verbs introduce these concepts and reinforce them through helpful and instructive exercises.

This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many more English grammar lessons focusing on basic English tenses (present tense, present continuous tense, past tense, future tense) in our comprehensive, beginner-level ESL grammar textbook Great, Great Grammar! (Book 2: Tenses).