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Grammar · Verbs & phrasing

Verb Tenses

Start here for tense choice — then open the full present, past, and future lessons.

FreeCELPIPTestGrammar lesson

Verb tenses for CELPIP prep

Tense tells your reader when something happens. In CELPIP Writing and Speaking, examiners notice when you switch tenses without a reason — and when you pick the tense that matches the situation.

This page is a quick map. For full explanations, examples, and practice checks, use the lessons below.

  1. Understanding Verbs — action vs. linking verbs, modals, and common patterns
  2. Tenses (overview) — how present, past, and future fit together
  3. Present Tense — habits, current situations, and recent past that still matters
  4. Past Tense — stories, completed actions, and sequence
  5. Future Tense — plans, promises, and next steps

Quick tense decision guide

Ask three questions before you write or speak:

  1. When does it happen?

    • Now / usually → present
    • Already finished → past
    • Later → future

  2. Is it a single action, ongoing action, or something that connects past to now?

    • Single → simple tense (I work, I worked, I will work)
    • Ongoing → continuous (I am working, I was working)
    • Past action still relevant now → perfect (I have worked here for two years)

  3. Are you telling a story or giving a fact?

    • Personal story in Speaking → mostly simple past, with past continuous for background
    • Complaint email opening → often present perfect (I have contacted you three times) or present continuous (I am writing to report…)

Common CELPIP patterns

Situation Tense to reach for Example
Opening a complaint email Present continuous / present perfect "I am writing to report…" / "I have requested repairs twice."
Describing a past attempt Simple past "I called maintenance last Tuesday."
Promising a follow-up Simple future "I will contact the tenant association if this is not resolved."
Speaking: personal experience Simple past (+ past continuous for scene-setting) "I was living in Toronto when I decided to change careers."

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