Vidhi While attempting to grasp the idea of tenses, students are thrown into a cycle of anxiety. One of the most fundamental yet challenging aspects of English grammar is this. But try not to worry too much about it. You only need to understand the fundamentals of tenses for the IELTS exam, as you can see. You can easily earn a high score on the IELTS speaking module if you know how to employ the three tenses—present, past, and perfect. So you’ll be using tenses a lot in both of the speaking module’s sections.
You must comprehend the context of the question in order to use the correct tenses. Pay close attention to the IELTS speaking question. The question determines the exact tense that you must use in your response. Does everything sound too confusing to you? You shouldn’t worry about it, though. You may learn how to use tenses appropriately in the IELTS speaking module by reading this article. Join the top IELTS Institute in Patiala for efficient preparations if you want to learn in the best setting possible.
Keep reading this article to know more about tenses and thus do wonders in the IELTS speaking module
Usage of present tense
The examiner frequently questions the students about their hobbies during the first section of the IELTS speaking module. It is a frequently asked question. You should now be aware that when discussing your hobbies, you’ll be employing the present tense. You’re speaking about something that is currently real. You will therefore use the simple present or present perfect tense when discussing your activities. The sample answers to this question are provided below to help you better comprehend this.
What are your hobbies?
Example 1: I enjoy reading a lot. I’ve always had a fondness for reading. Since I was a young child, I have enjoyed reading novels and other literature.
Example 2: I enjoy playing the guitar. I used YouTube to assist me to learn it. Music, in my opinion, is one of the best ways to unwind. My YouTube channel will likely launch soon.
Sample response 3
In terms of my pastime, I enjoy travelling a lot. I frequently go alone to various locations. I’ve developed my confidence thanks to travel. I enjoy travelling to different locations.
As a result, you can see that we exclusively used the present tense in all three of our responses. The above question is only one example of how the present tense might be used in the IELTS speaking module. The majority of the time if the examiner asks you to describe your hobbies, neighbourhood, family, pet, etc., you will be using the present tense.
Past tense use
If you are asked to explain anything from the past in the first module of your IELTS speaking task, you will use the past tense. Such inquiries are now fairly typical in the IELTS speaking module. It might be related to a memory from the past, a gift you received on your birthday, your time in school, etc. You will only use the simple past or past perfect because you are discussing past events that have already happened and are over. Let’s read the question and sample responses below to help you better comprehend this.
Describe a happy recollection from your time in school.
Sample response 1
I have many wonderful recollections from my time in school. When I won the inter-house debating competition, it was one of my fondest moments. I had worked really hard to get ready. My parents gave me a robot car as a reward for my efforts.
Sample response 2 Being chosen as the school’s top boy is one of my favourite school memories. With the majority of the vote, I won the elections. It was such a surreal experience when the principal gave me the top boy badge.
So you should pay attention to how the answer solely uses the past tense. You are discussing all of those past incidents because you are recounting a memory from your time in school.
employing the future tense
In addition, we’ll discuss how to use the future tense in your IELTS speaking module. Basically, you must utilise the future tense when describing any future event. Modal verbs like “will” and “shall” are used when speaking in the future tense. To further understand this, read the example below.
Do you believe that people will continue to like reading as a hobby?
Sample response 1
There is no denying that children’s interest in reading is waning. However, I continue to think that reading will remain popular because technology will make it more engaging. E-books will be available to users at the touch of a smartphone. Even individuals who are blind will be able to read books with the aid of artificial intelligence. Digital libraries will become available.
Therefore, I have a strong belief that reading will always be popular.
In order to respond to the question, the student is asked to look into the future. As a result, the entire answer is written in the future tense using the modal verb “will.”
We now anticipate that you are aware of how to employ each of the three tenses during the speaking challenge. To perform well on the PTE speaking activities, you must have a thorough comprehension of these tenses. The most crucial thing to do is to enrol in the top PTE Institute in Patiala if you are still having trouble understanding these topics.
To sum it all up
In conclusion, tenses are undoubtedly a perplexing idea. It can be difficult for non-native speakers to fully comprehend the concept. But having a solid grasp of tenses is a requirement for performing well in your IELTS speaking module. You can follow the instructions in the aforementioned article when taking the IELTS Speaking module to learn how to use the present, past, and future tenses.
