How tenses can be teach?

Answer 1

How can tenses be taught?

Tenses can be difficult to teach because cultures have different concepts about time. The difference between I eat and I am eating can be difficult for some learners.

It is important to understand the contexts of different verb tenses so they can be made clear to the leaner. eg I eat is used for routines and not for actions happening now ( I am eating ).

Start with the simple tenses, past simple and present simple. Then present continuous and past continuous. Show how the tense is formed eg be verb + verb + ing for continuous tenses. Give the various functions for each tense eg present simple is used for things that are true now, habits and things that are always true. = Form and function.

Go on to the more difficult present perfect past perfect / continuous and future tenses etc.

Always teach in a meaningful context.

A good book is "teaching Tenses" by Rosemary Aitken published by Longman.