Tenses: Present and Past
FoundationUse present simple for habits and facts, past simple for finished actions — watch the -s for he/she/it and learn irregular verbs.
- Time markers choose the tense: yesterday / last year → past; now / every day → present
- Regular past verbs add -ed: want → wanted; clap → clapped (double the last letter)
- Irregular verbs by heart: go → went · teach → taught · swim → swam · eat → ate
文體小知識：Check the time word first.
§Text Passage
1Last year, I was afraid of swimming, so I never went to the pool. When my classmates invited me to the beach, I always said no. My PE teacher, Mr Ng, saw me standing alone and smiled kindly. 'Everyone starts somewhere,' he said, and he taught me every Friday after school. At first, I swallowed a lot of water and my arms hurt badly. I wanted to give up many times, but Mr Ng never let me quit.
2Week by week, my confidence grew. I learned to float first, and then to kick. In March, I swam one width of the pool, and my classmates clapped for me. Now I swim twice a week, and I feel strong and happy in the water. Swimming also helps me sleep well and focus in class. Last month, I even joined the inter-school swimming gala and finished third. My little brother cannot swim yet, so I teach him in the shallow pool every Saturday morning.
3Yesterday he swam five metres by himself, and I clapped loudly, just as my classmates did for me. He grinned and shouted, 'Again! Again!' When I look at the pool now, I do not feel afraid any more. I remember that practice changes everything, and every expert was once a beginner too.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Last year, I was afraid of swimming, so I never went to the pool.
去年我很怕游泳，所以從來都不去泳池。
When my classmates invited me to the beach, I always said no.
同學約我去沙灘的時候，我每次都說不去。
My PE teacher, Mr Ng, saw me standing alone and smiled kindly.
我的體育老師吳Sir見到我一個人站在那裡，就友善地笑了一下。
'Everyone starts somewhere,' he said, and he taught me every Friday after school.
他說：「每個人都是由零開始的。」之後他逢星期五放學都教我游泳。
At first, I swallowed a lot of water and my arms hurt badly.
起初我喝了很多水，手臂又痛得不得了。
I wanted to give up many times, but Mr Ng never let me quit.
我很多次想放棄，但吳Sir一直都不讓我放棄。
Week by week, my confidence grew.
一個星期又一個星期，我的信心慢慢增加。
I learned to float first, and then to kick.
我先學會漂浮，然後學踢水。
In March, I swam one width of the pool, and my classmates clapped for me.
三月的時候，我游到一個池的闊度，同學們都拍手鼓勵我。
Now I swim twice a week, and I feel strong and happy in the water.
現在我每星期游泳兩次，在水裡面覺得又強壯又開心。
Swimming also helps me sleep well and focus in class.
游泳還幫我睡得好，上課更專心。
Last month, I even joined the inter-school swimming gala and finished third.
上個月我還參加了校際游泳比賽，拿到第三名。
My little brother cannot swim yet, so I teach him in the shallow pool every Saturday morning.
我弟弟還不會游泳，所以我逢星期六早上都會在淺水池教他。
Yesterday he swam five metres by himself, and I clapped loudly, just as my classmates did for me.
昨天他自己游了五米，我大聲拍手，就好像當日同學為我拍手一樣。
He grinned and shouted, 'Again! Again!'
他咧嘴笑著大叫：「再來！再來！」
When I look at the pool now, I do not feel afraid any more.
現在我望著泳池，已經不再害怕。
I remember that practice changes everything, and every expert was once a beginner too.
我記得練習可以改變一切，而且每個高手都曾經是初學者。
1Summary 重點摘要
Use present simple for habits and facts, past simple for finished actions — watch the -s for he/she/it and learn irregular verbs.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Habits and facts.
Already happened.
Will happen.
Helping verbs.
Add -ed.
Go-went etc.
Yesterday, now, tomorrow.
Always, usually.
3Step by step Steps
- PresentFor habits and facts; add -s after he/she/it: Now I swim twice a week. I teach my little brother every Saturday. Example: He swims every Saturday.
- PastFor finished actions: Last year, I was afraid of swimming, so I never went to the pool. Regular verbs add -ed: want → wanted; clap → clapped (double the consonant).
- Futurewill + base verb: I will try again next month. Compare with the passage: Yesterday he swam five metres (past) → tomorrow he will swim more (future).
- Time wordsSpot the signal: yesterday / last year / in March → past; now / every day / twice a week → present; tomorrow → future. Example: Yesterday → swam; now → swim.
- Irregular pastLearn four from the passage by heart: go → went, teach → taught, swim → swam, grow → grew. Example: In March, I swam one width of the pool.
- Mixing tensesThe passage switches inside one paragraph: Last month, I joined the inter-school swimming gala (past). Now I feel strong in the water (present). When the time word changes, the verb changes.
- Three tensesPractice changes everything. Try all three: Practice changed my swimming. Practice changes everything. Practice will change your results too.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Based on the passage: why does the writer say Last year, I never went to the pool but also Now I swim twice a week? Explain which tense each sentence uses and why.
- Step 1: Find the time markers — last year, yesterday, last month → past simple; now, every Saturday → present simple.
- Step 2: Spot irregular past verbs — go → went, teach → taught, swim → swam.
- Step 3: Spot regular past verbs — wanted, learned, clapped (double the final letter + -ed).
- Step 4: Present habits use the present simple — Now I swim twice a week.
- Step 5: Check third person — He swims every Saturday. (add -s after he/she/it)
- Answer: Last year signals the past: the writer was afraid of water, so the past simple is used — never went, Mr Ng taught me, I swam one width. Now and every Saturday signal habits, so the present simple is used — Now I swim twice a week and I teach him every Saturday morning. Regular verbs add -ed (wanted, learned, clapped), and irregular verbs must be learnt by heart: go → went, teach → taught, swim → swam.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What tense is "I go"?
Q2What tense is "I went"?
Q3What does yesterday signal?
Q4What does tomorrow signal?
Q5Is go-went regular?
8Recap Recap
- Time markers choose the tense: yesterday / last year → past; now / every day → present
- Regular past verbs add -ed: want → wanted; clap → clapped (double the last letter)
- Irregular verbs by heart: go → went · teach → taught · swim → swam · eat → ate
- Add -s after he/she/it in the present: He swims every Saturday.
- Main idea: Practice changes everything — the writer went from fearing water to joining the inter-school gala