Language
English
Level
A0
Unit
Basic tense signals
Practice types
0

What this grammar point covers

At A0, tense work starts as time awareness: now, before now, and after now.

When to use it

Use this overview to classify sentence meaning by time before deeper grammar study.

Key forms

  • present (now / usual)
  • past (before now)
  • future (after now)
  • helper cues: do/did/will, am-is-are / was-were

Examples

I work now. (present)

I worked yesterday. (past)

I will work tomorrow. (future)

She is at home now. (present be)

Tips

  • Identify time words first, then choose the helper pattern.
  • Do not memorize every tense rule at A0; build recognition first.
  • Use simple timeline thinking: past-left, now-center, future-right.

Exceptions and edge cases

  • Some sentences have no explicit time word, so context decides tense.

Keep exploring

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