do you write in past or present tense for essays

Past vs Present Tense: Which is Best for Your Story?

by Russel | Aug 23, 2021 | Fiction planning

How to choose your narrative tense

When writing a story you need to decide on the grammatical tense you are going to use – i.e. whether it will be told in past tense, present tense or future tense.

The tense is indicated by the form of the verbs. For example, here’s a passage in the present tense:

I run through the dark forest. What if she catches up with me?

If we change that to past tense, it goes like this:

I ran through the dark forest. What if she caught up with me?

Practically, the future tense doesn’t really work for fiction as it’s difficult to keep talking about events as if they’re still going to happen. So we can eliminate this tense as an option and just stick with past or present tense.

That leaves the question – how do you decide on past vs present?

1. Tense is independent of story setting

The first point to note is that the grammatical tense of the story has nothing to do with the time period in which the story is set. If your story is set in the future, it can be told in the grammatical past tense. And you can use present tense even if your story is set back in the 17 th Century.

2. Conventions

Past tense is seen as more traditional because, but that doesn’t mean it’s old fashioned. It’s just the way that stories have always been told.

Present tense is the new kid on the block. It’s apparently more immediate and thrusts the reader more into the action. It gives the impression that the action is happening right now.

However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should use present tense if you are writing something very dramatic. We all grew up reading stories set in past tense and when we listened to stories told by parents or grandparents they were usually told in past tense. So past tense has become a signal to us that we are entering story mode. If you’re having doubts about which tense to use – stick with past tense. It will serve you well in most instances.

Something else you can consider is what the current popular writers in your genre are using. For instance, in Young Adult fiction, there is a trend in favour of the present tense, perhaps because of the success of books like The Hunger Games , which are told in present tense.

For most genres it’s unlikely a publisher will reject your story just because it’s told in a tense that is not currently the rage. But do your own research here and check whether your favoured genre has any particular expectations of tense.

4. Instinct and feeling

The other way to decide on tense is just to go with gut instinct. Use the tense that your story wants to be told in. Your story will tell you what tense it wants to be told in and whether it wants first-person or third-person narration. The main thing is just to start with what feels right and then give yourself the freedom to change it later if you feel another tense and point of view seems more appropriate.

Tense in dialogue

An important point to remember is that speakers always speak from their present moment. This means that the verbs that give the tense of the sentence are the ones outside the quotation marks. You don’t need to do anything to the verbs in the words spoken because these are always spoken from the character’s present moment

Take a look at the following dialogue and see if you can identify what tense it’s written in:

“What did you do for Christmas last year?” I ask . She gives a glum expression and says , “Nothing much. Just sat around and exchanged polite insults.”

It’s the verbs outside the quotation marks that indicate the tense, so the present-tense verbs ‘ask’, ‘says, and ‘gives’ indicate that this is present-tense narration.

Notice that even though the narration is present tense, the characters are using past-tense verbs because they are telling about something that happened in their past.

When it comes to deciding on the tense of narration, my advice is not to let this become a cause for hesitation or over-thinking. It’s quite normal for writers to experiment with past and present as they begin writing a piece and then see which one serves them best. You can always go back and change the tense of what you’ve already written if you decide that another tense feels more comfortable and more suited to your story.

For the full story on choosing tense, with more examples and exercises, see my book and course Write Masterful Fiction (details below).

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Usage and Grammar

Q. When writing about an author’s work, do you write in the past or present tense? Example: The author argues (argued) that it was the correct choice. Please help. Thanks.

A. Different kinds of writing have different conventions. In academic writing, it’s not wrong to use the past tense when quoting written works, but it’s conventional to use the “historical present,” even when the author is dead (Heraclitus says, “No one steps into the same river twice”). In a newspaper interview, however, the present implies that someone is in the habit of saying something, rather than that he or she said it one time, and it is more likely to be found with paraphrasing than with a direct quotation (Mr. Obama says that the health care system needs fixing). “Said” in the same context implies that a person said something on a particular occasion (in his speech last night Mr. Obama said that the health care system needs fixing). And “said” used with quotation marks indicates that the person spoke the actual words on a particular occasion (Mr. Obama said, “We spend one and a half times more per person on health care than any other country, but we aren’t any healthier for it”).

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Verb Tenses

What this handout is about.

The present simple, past simple, and present perfect verb tenses account for approximately 80% of verb tense use in academic writing. This handout will help you understand how to use these three verb tenses in your own academic writing.

Click here for a color-coded illustration of changing verb tenses in academic writing.

Present simple tense

The present simple tense is used:

In your introduction, the present simple tense describes what we already know about the topic. In the conclusion, it says what we now know about the topic and what further research is still needed.

“The data suggest…” “The research shows…”

“The dinoflagellate’s TFVCs require an unidentified substance in fresh fish excreta” (Penrose and Katz, 330).

“There is evidence that…”

“So I’m walking through the park yesterday, and I hear all of this loud music and yelling. Turns out, there’s a free concert!” “Shakespeare captures human nature so accurately.”

Past simple tense

Past simple tense is used for two main functions in most academic fields.

“…customers obviously want to be treated at least as well on fishing vessels as they are by other recreation businesses. [General claim using simple present] De Young (1987) found the quality of service to be more important than catching fish in attracting repeat customers. [Specific claim from a previous study using simple past] (Marine Science)

We conducted a secondary data analysis… (Public Health) Descriptional statistical tests and t-student test were used for statistical analysis. (Medicine) The control group of students took the course previously… (Education)

Present perfect tense

The present perfect acts as a “bridge” tense by connecting some past event or state to the present moment. It implies that whatever is being referred to in the past is still true and relevant today.

“There have been several investigations into…” “Educators have always been interested in student learning.”

Some studies have shown that girls have significantly higher fears than boys after trauma (Pfefferbaum et al., 1999; Pine &; Cohen, 2002; Shaw, 2003). Other studies have found no gender differences (Rahav and Ronen, 1994). (Psychology)

Special notes

Can i change tenses.

Yes. English is a language that uses many verb tenses at the same time. The key is choosing the verb tense that is appropriate for what you’re trying to convey.

What’s the difference between present simple and past simple for reporting research results?

• Past simple limits your claims to the results of your own study. E.g., “Our study found that teenagers were moody.” (In this study, teenagers were moody.)
• Present simple elevates your claim to a generalization. E.g., “Our study found that teenagers are moody.” (Teenagers are always moody.)

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Biber, Douglas. 1999. Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English . New York: Longman.

Hawes, Thomas, and Sarah Thomas. 1997. “Tense Choices in Citations.” Research into the Teaching of English 31 (3): 393-414.

Hinkel, Eli. 2004. Teaching Academic ESL Writing: Practical Techniques in Vocabulary and Grammar . Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Penrose, Ann, and Steven Katz. 2004. Writing in the Sciences: Exploring the Conventions of Scientific Discourse , 2nd ed. New York: Longman.

Swales, John, and Christine B. Feak. 2004. Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills , 2nd ed. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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What Tense Should I Use in Writing?

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When writing, people are often confused about what tense they should use. Should I write this MLA history paper in past tense? Should I write my short story in present or past tense? How about a resume: should I write my job entries in present or past? And these people are right to be confused because what tense you should use varies widely depending on your writing style and your purpose.

Academic (Four Main Styles)

APA/Harvard: Per APA (and its non-American variant, Harvard), you should primarily use past tense, especially in literature reviews where you’re talking about authors’ past studies. It should be:

“Johnson (2008) argued . . .”

“Johnson (2008) argues . . . .”

Get a free sample proofread and edit for your document. Two professional proofreaders will proofread and edit your document.

The same is true for your Results and Method sections, but APA makes an exception for Discussion sections (where you examine your conclusions and the implications of the study), which can be in present tense if it better conveys your meaning.

MLA: This style is a bit more straightforward. Per MLA, you should be almost always using present tense:

“In To Kill a Mockingbird , Atticus Finch argues . . .”

If you need to differentiate time, you should use present perfect tense:

“For many years, Scout has been worrying about . . . .”

If you must, you can use some past tense, but keep it to a minimum.

Chicago: This style is a bit more lenient. Per Chicago, you can use either present or past (Though it’s best to use present when discussing literature and past when writing about history.), but make sure you stay consistent. If you switch, make sure you need to, such as:

The Romans used various military strategies, some of which are still in use today.

AP: AP, which is used by news media, is also more flexible. There is no set tense; instead, you should be endeavoring to use present/past/future as necessary to make sure the events you are describing are as clear as possible. AP also recommends using time words (today, tomorrow, March 17, etc.) to anchor your piece and further reduce ambiguity.

When talking about your job experience in resumes, the rule is simple: Use present tense for current positions:

Lead team in HVAC solutions

And use past tense for past positions:

Led team in HVAC solutions

Business Plan

Professors and potential investors have different views on what tense a business plan should be written in, but definitely you should be using either future or present tense. Some people argue that you should always write a business plan in future tense because you’re talking about your future plans.

But there’s another school of thought that recommends using present tense instead because this will allow your plan to stay current as you develop it and you develop your business. In other words, as you develop your business, you develop your plan, and it stays current with what you’re doing.

Above all, fictional writing needs to be consistent in its tense. Just as above, don’t switch unless you must. (BTW, fictional writing is done in Chicago Style.)

Everything Else

For everything else, such as business letters, admission essays, and e-mails, and especially in more informal contexts, just use your best judgment and write in whatever tense feels right to you. Go with your instincts and remember that, unless you’re writing in a formal academic context, you have more leeway to do whatever you like.

Just remember, for all styles and purposes, always be consistent. Try to pick one tense and stick with it throughout your piece. If you have to switch tenses, make it very obvious why you are doing so, and at least try to start new paragraphs for new tenses.

That’s it, I hope you have/had/will have good luck in your writing!

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• Verb Tenses in Academic Writing | Rules, Differences & Examples

Verb Tenses in Academic Writing | Rules, Differences & Examples

Published on 20 October 2022 by Shane Bryson . Revised on 11 September 2023.

Tense communicates an event’s location in time. The different tenses are identified by their associated verb forms. There are three main verb tenses: past ,  present , and  future .

In English, each of these tenses can take four main aspects:  simple ,  perfect ,  continuous  (also known as  progressive ), and  perfect continuous . The perfect aspect is formed using the verb  to have , while the continuous aspect is formed using the verb  to be .

In academic writing , the most commonly used tenses are the  present simple , the  past simple , and the  present perfect .

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Table of contents

Tenses and their functions, when to use the present simple, when to use the past simple, when to use the present perfect, when to use other tenses.

The table below gives an overview of some of the basic functions of tenses and aspects. Tenses locate an event in time, while aspects communicate durations and relationships between events that happen at different times.

It can be difficult to pick the right verb tenses and use them consistently. If you struggle with verb tenses in your thesis or dissertation , you could consider using a thesis proofreading service .

The only proofreading tool specialized in correcting academic writing

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts and by native English editors. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students.

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The present simple is the most commonly used tense in academic writing, so if in doubt, this should be your default choice of tense. There are two main situations where you always need to use the present tense.

Describing facts, generalisations, and explanations

Facts that are always true do not need to be located in a specific time, so they are stated in the present simple. You might state these types of facts when giving background information in your introduction .

• The Eiffel tower  is in Paris.
• Light  travels faster than sound.

Similarly, theories and generalisations based on facts are expressed in the present simple.

• Average income differs by race and gender.
• Older people express less concern about the environment than younger people.

Explanations of terms, theories, and ideas should also be written in the present simple.

• Photosynthesis  refers to  the process by which plants  convert sunlight into chemical energy.
• According to Piketty (2013), inequality grows over time in capitalist economies.

Describing the content of a text

Things that happen within the space of a text should be treated similarly to facts and generalisations.

This applies to fictional narratives in books, films, plays, etc. Use the present simple to describe the events or actions that are your main focus; other tenses can be used to mark different times within the text itself.

• In the first novel, Harry learns he is a wizard and travels  to Hogwarts for the first time, finally escaping the constraints of the family that raised him.

The events in the first part of the sentence are the writer’s main focus, so they are described in the present tense. The second part uses the past tense to add extra information about something that happened prior to those events within the book.

When discussing and analyzing nonfiction, similarly, use the present simple to describe what the author does within the pages of the text ( argues , explains , demonstrates , etc).

• In The History of Sexuality , Foucault asserts that sexual identity is a modern invention.
• Paglia (1993) critiques Foucault’s theory.

This rule also applies when you are describing what you do in your own text. When summarising the research in your abstract , describing your objectives, or giving an overview of the  dissertation structure in your introduction, the present simple is the best choice of tense.

• This research  aims to synthesise the two theories.
• Chapter 3 explains  the methodology and discusses ethical issues.
• The paper  concludes with recommendations for further research.

The past simple should be used to describe completed actions and events, including steps in the research process and historical background information.

Reporting research steps

Whether you are referring to your own research or someone else’s, use the past simple to report specific steps in the research process that have been completed.

• Olden (2017) recruited 17 participants for the study.
• We transcribed and coded the interviews before analyzing the results.

The past simple is also the most appropriate choice for reporting the results of your research.

• All of the focus group participants agreed  that the new version  was an improvement.
• We  found a positive correlation between the variables, but it  was not as strong as we  hypothesised .

Describing historical events

Background information about events that took place in the past should also be described in the past simple tense.

• James Joyce  pioneered the modernist use of stream of consciousness.
• Donald Trump’s election in 2016  contradicted the predictions of commentators.

The present perfect is used mainly to describe past research that took place over an unspecified time period. You can also use it to create a connection between the findings of past research and your own work.

Summarising previous work

When summarising a whole body of research or describing the history of an ongoing debate, use the present perfect.

• Many researchers  have investigated the effects of poverty on health.
• Studies  have shown a link between cancer and red meat consumption.
• Identity politics has been a topic of heated debate since the 1960s.
• The problem of free will  has vexed philosophers for centuries.

Similarly, when mentioning research that took place over an unspecified time period in the past (as opposed to a specific step or outcome of that research), use the present perfect instead of the past tense.

• Green et al.  have conducted extensive research on the ecological effects of wolf reintroduction.

Emphasising the present relevance of previous work

When describing the outcomes of past research with verbs like fi nd ,  discover or demonstrate , you can use either the past simple or the present perfect.

The present perfect is a good choice to emphasise the continuing relevance of a piece of research and its consequences for your own work. It implies that the current research will build on, follow from, or respond to what previous researchers have done.

• Smith (2015) has found that younger drivers are involved in more traffic accidents than older drivers, but more research is required to make effective policy recommendations.
• As Monbiot (2013)  has shown , ecological change is closely linked to social and political processes.

Note, however, that the facts and generalisations that emerge from past research are reported in the present simple.

While the above are the most commonly used tenses in academic writing, there are many cases where you’ll use other tenses to make distinctions between times.

Future simple

The future simple is used for making predictions or stating intentions. You can use it in a research proposal  to describe what you intend to do.

It is also sometimes used for making predictions and stating hypotheses . Take care, though, to avoid making statements about the future that imply a high level of certainty. It’s often a better choice to use other verbs like  expect ,  predict,  and  assume to make more cautious statements.

• There  will be a strong positive correlation.
• We  expect  to find a strong positive correlation.
• H1  predicts a strong positive correlation.

Similarly, when discussing the future implications of your research, rather than making statements with will,  try to use other verbs or modal verbs that imply possibility ( can ,  could ,  may ,  might ).

• These findings  will influence  future approaches to the topic.
• These findings  could influence future approaches to the topic.

Present, past, and future continuous

The continuous aspect is not commonly used in academic writing. It tends to convey an informal tone, and in most cases, the present simple or present perfect is a better choice.

• Some scholars are suggesting that mainstream economic paradigms are no longer adequate.
• Some scholars suggest   that mainstream economic paradigms are no longer adequate.
• Some scholars have suggested   that mainstream economic paradigms are no longer adequate.

However, in certain types of academic writing, such as literary and historical studies, the continuous aspect might be used in narrative descriptions or accounts of past events. It is often useful for positioning events in relation to one another.

• While Harry is traveling to Hogwarts for the first time, he meets many of the characters who will become central to the narrative.
• The country was still recovering from the recession when Donald Trump was elected.

Past perfect

Similarly, the past perfect is not commonly used, except in disciplines that require making fine distinctions between different points in the past or different points in a narrative’s plot.

Sources for this article

We strongly encourage students to use sources in their work. You can cite our article (APA Style) or take a deep dive into the articles below.

Bryson, S. (2023, September 11). Verb Tenses in Academic Writing | Rules, Differences & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved 22 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/english-language/verb-tenses/

Aarts, B. (2011).  Oxford modern English grammar . Oxford University Press.

Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015).  Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage  (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

Garner, B. A. (2016).  Garner’s modern English usage (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.

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Shane Bryson

Shane finished his master's degree in English literature in 2013 and has been working as a writing tutor and editor since 2009. He began proofreading and editing essays with Scribbr in early summer, 2014.

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Writing in the present tense: The good and the bad

Latest posts.

What are the pros and cons of writing a story or novel in present tense?

Before you start writing your novel or short story, you need to decide what tense to write it in.

There is no right or wrong but the choice you make will determine your approach.

Will your story recount events that have already taken place ( Lucy waited by the door ) or will it be set in an ongoing present ( Lucy waits by the door ) ? You can see just from those two brief examples that each option will offer different possibilities in terms of writing style and narrative approach.

You have two tense choices when it comes to writing fiction: past and present.

Using the past tense in fiction is time-honoured and for many, the default choice, but writing in the present tense is a stylistic choice that is increasingly used in modern fiction.

The present tense is used more in contemporary literary fiction, in short stories and in writing that plays or experiments with form – and also in a lot of middle grade and young adult books. Past tense is the default setting for most genre fiction.

As the simple past tense is traditionally used for storytelling, it presents fewer challenges to the reader, who doesn’t notice the tense that is being used and is immediately immersed in the world of the story. Past tense foregrounds the story, rather than the prose it’s written in. Present tense tends to be a deliberate stylistic choice used by a writer to create a conscious effect. You are signalling the reader’s attention to when your story takes place. This tense choice can be particularly effective when you want a reader to understand the world of your story as it unfolds through the eyes of a first-person narrator.

Benefits of writing in present tense

✓ it’s cinematic.

The present-tense is ideal for writing an impressionistic narrative that is playing out in an immediate timescale. Screenplays are written in first person because they express ongoing narrative and a close perspective, and both of these can be used to great effect in fiction. If you’re writing a story and want it to feel as if it’s set in real time, the present tense is a good choice

✓ It’s immediate

You can make readers relate to what’s going on in your fictional world and be involved in it by showing what happens – events, feelings, ideas – in the moment they occur. When each impression or scene you write takes place in the absolute moment, it means that the reader is right in there, experiencing the events of your story as they unfold. This can create a sense of intimacy or dramatic impact.

✓ It can feel more authentic

Because present tense allows for closer narration, it can create the sense of a unique character perspective. A present tense narrative can convey emotions, thoughts and impressions in the moment. Many writers who use the present tense feel that it’s a natural tense to write to reflect the world we live in now, where the voice of the individual is prioritised and what and how we write is influenced by TV, film and online culture.

✓ It’s vivid

Writing in the present tense means the information you present hasn’t got the perspective of being reported later. It’s written in the moment, without an effect of being filtered or processed or reported (though we know it has, because you’re a writer and it hasn’t happened by accident). What the reader has to focus on is the image you create, as it occurs, which makes for dynamic impressions.

✓ It’s good for delivering a deep first-person point of view

If you want to deliver the mindset of a first-person character, the immediacy of writing in the present tense means that your reader is right in there with your narrator, seeing what they see and experiencing the world of the story through their eyes. Rather than being an omniscient narrator, the writer shares the character’s focus. If you are writing an unreliable narrator using the present tense is an excellent way of delivering a narrative perspective at odds with the ‘true’ version of events in your story.

Drawbacks of writing in present tense

χ some readers don’t like it.

For every writer who feels the past tense is a bit ‘old school’ there is a reader who prefers a narrative that sticks with the convention of using the simple past tense. Present tense stories may feel natural for young readers but adult readers with a lifetime of reading work written in past tense may find present tense jarring – and it may be hard for them to get beyond the tense choice and into the world of your story. Literary fiction readers will be more open to experiments in form but for readers of genre fiction who want to be immediately immersed in the story, present tense may detract from their reading pleasure.

χ It can feel contrived

There is nothing more likely to put off readers than a writing voice that feels like a self-conscious pose. If writing in the present tense doesn’t feel like a natural fit for your story, it will read awkwardly and draw your reader’s attention to your attempt at technique rather than the story you’re writing. If you’re unsure about whether to use first person, try writing two versions of a short story, or a few pages of a longer work – one in present tense and one in past tense – to see which approach suits your story best and feels most comfortable for you as a writer.

χ It makes it harder to use time shifts

Writing in the past tense makes it possible for you to set your story at any point in time you choose, and move around between time periods. Writing in the present tense limits you to the present: being committed to the present tense also means being locked into it, and having less freedom than a past-tense writer to manipulate time to your story’s advantage. A past-tense writer can move around freely in time (and use all the available tenses to do so); a present-tense writer is restricted. Again, it depends what suits your story.

χ  It can make the focus too detailed

Although the present tense is very good for conveying a first-person narrator or a close third-person narrator, it also means that the writer wanting to appear naturalistic may overwhelm the reader with details of what that narrator sees, thinks, feels and experiences. It may be tempting for your narrator to describe everything they see, but do readers need to know what they thought about what they had for breakfast? Too much focus on the ongoing internal life of the narrator can detract from the story that is being told. If you use present tense, make sure all the information your character conveys is relevant. The character may be the story, but present-tense narrative still needs to be a story.

χ It’s harder to write

The writer who choses present tense for their story limits their narrative options in terms of available tenses – writers using the past tense have up to 12 tenses they can use; present-tense writers have four. It’s more difficult to maintain a present-tense voice without flipping between tenses. It limits you if you want to write stories with complex time-schemes, or create layered characters other than a first-person/close third person lead. If you want to create and build suspense, present tense will only allow you to convey the kind of tension that arises from not knowing what is going to happen next.

The choice of whether or not to use present tense for your story depends what you want to write – it doesn’t suit everything. It’s a good choice if you want to write a story that feels immediate, or one with a close single focus on the narrator’s viewpoint. It’s less useful if you want to create a story that moves around in time. It draws attention to itself, so if you do use it, you have to use it well or readers will notice the flaws rather than your story. Read some present tense novels to get a feel for how it works and how you might apply it in your own writing. Try The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins; The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, Rabbit, Run by John Updike, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.

So now you're all fired up, what better time to start writing your present tense story than... right now! Get some ideas for how to start your story here . It's particularly suited to crime and thriller short stories ... Enter now!

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Home / Book Writing / Past Tense Writing: The Secret to This Popular Writing Style

Past Tense Writing: The Secret to This Popular Writing Style

The past tense is the most common tense in fiction writing, and it has been for some time. Deciding between the past or the present tense is one of the first decisions a writer must make before putting words down. And in order to make an informed decision, it's essential to know the ins and outs of past tense writing. 

• What the past tense is and why it's so common.
• How to write well in the past tense.
• Tips for keeping your tenses straight.

Table of contents

• Why is the Past Tense Used More Than the Present Tense?
• Simple Past Tense
• Past Perfect Tense
• Past Progressive Tense
• Past Perfect Progressive Tense
• Dialogue in the Past Tense
• Changing Tenses
• Using “Had” Judiciously
• Benefits of Past Tense
• Drawbacks of Past Tense
• Past Tense Writing: Conclusion

What is the Past Tense?

The past tense is a type of grammatical tense in which events are told as if they happened in the past. As readers, most of the fiction we've read is written in the past tense. You can easily identify this tense by the use of past tense verbs such as went, walked, said, sat, stood, drove, etc. 

Here's an example of the past tense:

She was waiting for the bus when she noticed the man. Something about his body language bothered her. She had seen him on the train, three rows down from her. She straightened as he approached , as if making herself look bigger would make him think twice if he did in fact mean her harm. But this was silly because she stood just a hair above five feet tall on her best day. The man passed on the sidewalk without a glance, leaving Uma feeling relief mixed with a dash of self-recrimination. She had been prone to anxiety for years, but this was getting ridiculous. 

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All the past tense verbs in the example above are in bold to illuminate what makes this passage past tense. 

When it comes to fiction writing, we can also use the present tense. But we'll focus on the past tense in this article because it's important to be familiar with this often-used tense before you decide in which style to write your story. 

When we tell each other stories, we naturally speak in the past tense. If you wanted to tell someone what happened to you at the store or at work, you wouldn't tell them about it as if it was happening right now. Because it happened in the past, you would tell them about it using the past tense.

This natural tendency is perhaps the best explanation for why writing fiction in the past tense is so common. While in recent years there have been several bestselling books written in the present tense, books written in the past tense are still much more common. In fact, this is sometimes called narrative tense, which indicates how prevalent it really is. 

And because it has been so common for so long, people are used to it. In fact, some readers find present-tense books so jarring that they won't even read them. 

So for any writer who wants to master their craft , learning to write in the past tense is essential. And within the past tense, there are four tenses with which to familiarize yourself. 

Writing Well in the Past Tense: The Four Tenses

One of the most common mistakes writers make (both new and experienced) is failing to use the correct tense. There are four primary tenses you'll use when writing in the past tense. These are simple past, past perfect, past progressive, and past perfect progressive. Let's take a look at each in turn (with examples). 

The simple past tense is the most common type of past tense you'll use when writing a novel or short story . You can think of the simple past tense (sometimes called past simple) as the “now” of your story. It helps the reader keep track of the story timeline, so it's where you will root the “present” of your story, even though it's written in the past tense.

The majority of your story will be told in the simple past, but there will likely be times when you'll need a different tense. Sometimes called a tense shift, this is all about making the order of things clear to the reader. And it all starts with the simple past tense. We can see this in action using an excerpt from the example above:

Something about his body language bothered her. 

There are other portions of the example that are in the simple past tense, as well:

She straightened as he approached . . .

The man passed on the sidewalk without a glance, leaving Uma feeling relief mixed with a dash of self-recrimination.

These passages describe action in the now of the story, without deviating to the future or the past of that now . But there are other passages that do deviate. Let's continue with the next tense to explore this more.  

Past perfect is used in novel writing to tell the reader about something that happened before the “now” of the simple past. Crucially, it always refers to something that happened and was completed before. Let's look at the passage from earlier again to see this in action: 

Something about the man's body language bothered her. She had seen him on the train, three rows down from her .

By using the word “had” in the bold sentence, we indicate to the reader that we're talking about something that happened in the past. If we didn't use the past perfect tense, instead sticking to the simple perfect, it would look like this: 

Something about the man's body language bothered her. She saw him on the train, three rows down from her. 

This seems like it's happening in the story's present. It can cause confusion. Is he on the train? Is she? Suddenly, the reader has to go back and try to figure out what's going on. They're taken out of the story, and that's the last thing we want. 

By using the past perfect, we can avoid any confusion and keep the chronology clear, therefore keeping the reader in the story . 

Sometimes called past continuous tense, this tense is used to indicate something that was continuing to happen at the time of mention. You can identify past progressive by the verbs “was” or “were” combined with an “ing” word. 

The past progressive tense is most often used in fiction to describe simultaneous or interrupted actions.  

She was waiting for the bus when she noticed the man.

While it's entirely possible to overuse the past progressive—especially when describing scenery — it does have its place. In the example above, it indicates an activity that was ongoing. The waiting was ongoing, and she didn't stop waiting just because she noticed the man. 

But let's try this without past continuous tense:

She waited for the bus when she noticed the man.  

Writing it this way can cause confusion. It sounds wrong because the chronology isn't clear. Of course, there are other ways to write this sentence without using past continuous. But sometimes, this tense is just what you need for concise writing. 

Lastly, we come to the past perfect progressive tense. Sometimes called past perfect continuous tense, this is used to show that something had happened for a certain amount of time in the past . Whereas the past perfect indicates that something happened once (“had seen him”), the past perfect progressive indicates that something happened over a length of time in the past. In our example, there's only one instance of this:

She had been prone to anxiety for years, but this was getting ridiculous.

The use of “had been” shows that her anxiety wasn't just a one-time thing. It was ongoing for years, even up to the story's “now.” 

This is also often used to indicate an ongoing action that was interrupted in the past: 

He had been reading for hours when the doorbell rang.

Tips for Writing in the Past Tense

Now that we've covered the four tenses you'll use when writing your novel in the past tense, let's look at some tips for using them. 

Even when writing your story in the past tense, your dialogue will be in the present tense . Because, to the characters in the story, it's still the present tense. 

This can get tricky, requiring you to switch between simple present tense and past simple tense while writing dialogue scenes. In fact, it can be easy to slip into the present tense when coming out of dialogue , so it's a good idea to pay close attention to these areas. 

Likewise, some authors get inside their POV characters' heads with internal dialogue. This should also be in the present, even though your character isn't really talking to anyone. Actually, you could make the argument that a character's internal dialogue is the character talking to him or herself. Either way, keep this in the present tense when the thoughts are verbatim. 

Some authors like to use italics to set these lines apart. Others use quotation marks. Some simply change tenses without any other outward signal to the reader that they're hearing the character's thoughts. Really, this is a matter of style and what works best for your genre. 

While changing tenses is expected when it comes to internal or external dialogue, it's not something that readers like much in other instances. 

It can be tempting to change from past to present tense during an action sequence. After all, the present tense seems to lend itself to fights and other dramatic scenes. But in the vast majority of cases, this will only result in reader confusion and possibly even bad reviews .

There is some debate as to whether to change tenses when writing about universal truths . For example:

Suddenly everything came back to him. He recalled it all. Everything he'd lost. He knew that two plus two equals four and that the Earth is round and that fire is hot. 

Suddenly everything came back to him. He recalled it all. Everything he'd lost. He knew that two plus two equaled four and that the Earth was round and that fire was hot. 

If your narrator is omniscient or breaks the fourth wall to talk to the reader, the first example would probably be acceptable. However, if your narrator is not omniscient and you are sticking close to your POV characters , the second example would probably be best. 

Really, there is no “rule” for writing about universal truths. Ultimately, it comes down to a choice of style and genre.  

As detailed above, you will probably be using the word “ had” in your novel for both past perfect and past perfect progressive. However, a pitfall to avoid is using it too often. If you're going to tell the reader about something that happened before your story's “now” by using “ had ,” you don't need to keep using it during that entire scene . 

For example, if you want to fill in some backstory to tell about what your character had been doing before the present moment, you can use one or two (no more than three) “ had s” to indicate to the reader that this happened in the story's past. This is known as switching the verb tense. 

Then, when you're getting ready to bring the narration back to the story's present, you can use one or two “ had s” again to indicate you're leaving. Here's an example:

As Terrence stepped out of the airport and into the blizzard, he thought about the last twenty-four hours. He had been trying to drown his sorrows before finally sucking it up and buying the plane ticket. He’d chosen a particularly dark and smelly biker pub in which to do his drinking. And as always seemed to be the case, he attracted trouble. 

The man who picked a fight with him outweighed him by a good fifty pounds, but size was only a determining factor when the other guy didn't know what he was doing. 

After the fight was over, Terrence tossed a crumpled fifty-pound note on the bar, hoping it would cover the damages. He had lurched down the street before finally catching a cab to the airport. 

Now, here he was, half a world away and facing more trouble. But unlike the guy at the bar, Terrence was actually looking for this trouble. 

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While that could use some cleaning up, you get the idea. You don't have to use the new verb tense every time once you've clearly established a foothold in the story's past. Use it a few times to get the point across, then a time or two more when you're coming back to the story's present. This will prevent all the “ had s” from slowing down the story. 

When you use the past tense in your creative writing, you can rest easy knowing that you won't alienate any readers. This is not always the case when writing in the present tense. While readers who don't like present-tense novels are out there, you won't often find readers that balk at a novel written in the past tense.

You also have more freedom when writing in the past tense. You can stretch or close the distance between your viewpoint character and narrator as the scene requires. If you want, you can even give a hint of what's to come, which is great for building tension. These things are much more difficult when writing in the literary present tense. 

There are many reasons to write your novel in the past tense, but it's always good to let the story influence this decision. Because there are certain drawbacks to writing in the past tense, as well. 

When compared to the present simple tense, the past tense can seem a little distant. It doesn't contain the immediacy and cinematic draw that the present tense does. For some stories, especially those that happen over a short period or that have only one viewpoint character, the present tense might be the better choice. 

It can also be easy to slip into passive voice when writing in the past tense. This is something to look out for when using the past tense. When we find ourselves writing “was” and “were” along with “ing” verbs, instead of using past participle verbs, we risk slowing the story down and taking agency away from the characters.

Although it may feel to us like we're writing about a past event when using the past tense in our novel, it often doesn't seem like this to the reader. To them, the story is unfolding as they read, and the fact that it's written in the past tense doesn't occur to most readers. This is why mastering the past tense is a worthy pursuit for any fiction writer. 

Using the correct verb tense can get a little complicated when shifting tenses. Luckily, as a reader, you likely already have an instinctual knowledge of how to write in this tense. By making it a point to study this tense, you can learn its ins and outs to determine with confidence if it's the right choice for your story.  

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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How to Use Tenses within Scientific Writing

Written by: Chloe Collier

One’s tense will vary depending on what one is trying to convey within their paper or section of their paper. For example, the tense may change between the methods section and the discussion section.

Abstract --> Past tense

• The abstract is usually in the past tense due to it showing what has already been studied.

Example: “This study was conducted at the Iyarina Field School, and within the indigenous Waorani community within Yasuni National Park region.”

Introduction --> Present tense

• Example: “ Clidemia heterophylla and Piperaceae musteum are both plants with ant domata, meaning that there is an ant mutualism which protects them from a higher level of herbivory.”

Methods --> Past tense

• In the methods section one would use past tense due to what they have done was in the past.
• It has been debated whether one should use active or passive voice. The scientific journal Nature states that one should use active voice as to convey the concepts more directly.
• Example: “In the geographic areas selected for the study, ten random focal plants were selected as points for the study.”

Results --> Past tense

• Example: “We observed that there was no significant statistical difference in herbivory on Piperaceae between the two locations, Yasuni National Park, Ecuador (01° 10’ 11, 13”S and 77° 10’ 01. 47 NW) and Iyarina Field School, Ecuador (01° 02’ 35.2” S and 77° 43’ 02. 45” W), with the one exception being that there was found to be a statistical significance in the number count within a one-meter radius of Piperaceae musteum (Piperaceae).”

Discussion --> Present tense and past tense

• Example: “Symbiotic ant mutualistic relationships within species will defend their host plant since the plant provides them with food. In the case of Melastomataceae, they have swellings at the base of their petioles that house the ants and aid to protect them from herbivores.”
• One would use past tense to summarize one’s results
• Example: “In the future to further this experiment, we would expand this project and expand our sample size in order to have a more solid base for our findings.”

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What Tense to Use in IELTS Writing Task 1

It is essential to use the right tense in IELTS writing task 1, both academic and GT. This page will explain which tenses to use. The academic test will be explained first and lower down the page you will find grammar tips for GT letters.

Also find writing task 1 tips further down the page.

Academic Writing Task 1 Tenses to Use

For IELTS writing task 1, you may be given a map, a diagram, a bar chart, a line graph, a table or a pie chart in the academic test. The IELTS examiner will mark you on the following (each worth 25% of task 1)

• Task Achievement : information, overview, accurate of data
• Coherence & Cohesion : Paragraphing, Linking Words
• Vocabulary: Collocations, Spelling and Accuracy
• Grammar : Sentence structure, tenses , punctuation, grammar range and accuracy

So, you can see that using the right tense is important in IELTS writing task 1 because it falls into the marking criterion of Grammar.

Dates and Tenses

On your IELTS graph, chart, map, diagram or table, you might find dates. These will tell you what tense to use. See the list below:

• No Dates = present tense
• Dates in the Past = Past Tense
• Dates in the Future = Future Forms
• Dates spanning both Past and Future = both Past Tense and Future Forms

Using Passive Voice in IELTS Writing Task 1

There are students who seem to think they will get a high score if they use passive voice. This is not true. You can only use passive voice when it is appropriate and correct to do so. Most writing task 1 will not give you this opportunity. However, if you get a diagram, they are usually a combination of passive and active voice.

Mixing both Past Tense and Future Forms

Here is a sample sentence using both tenses:

In 2010, the number of sales stood at 2 million and is forecast to rise to a peak of 10 million by 2050.

You can see past simple “stood” and future forms of prediction “is forecast to”

IELTS General Training Writing Task 1 Tenses

The examiner will mark you using the same criteria as the AC test, but with one difference in Task Achievement. The IELTS examiner will mark you on the following (each worth 25% of task 1). See below:

• Task Achievement : Purpose, tone and expanding points

For students taking the General Training test. You will use a range of tenses in your letter depending on the aims and purpose. Below are some sample sentences:

• I am writing to …. (present continuous)
• I visited your store … (past simple)
• …the poor service I have received (present perfect)
• I hope the problem will be resolved … (future form and future passive)
• I had hoped that … (past perfect)

Tips for IELTS Writing Task 1

Academic writing task 1 tips, click below:

All Tips, Model Answers, Free Video Lessons & Practice for IELTS writing task 1

GT writing task 1 tips, click below:

Essential 10 tips

Differences between GT and Academic Writing Task 1

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Develop your IELTS skills with tips, lessons, free videos and more. Click below to find the main pages for IELTS on my website:

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THANKS for the guidance throughout my ielts journey. JUST I received my desired IELTS score of overall 7.5

That’s wonderful! Well done to you 🙂

Congratulations to you. How I wish I can cross that mark.

Dear Liz, Regarding the tense for Task 1 Academic, it is stated that we can use simple present if there is no time specified. But if there is a verb in the question which shows a past incident, then can we use past tense in the overview and body paragraphs? For example the question is “The chart below shows what Anthropology graduates from one university did after finishing their undergraduate degree course”

When you see the past tense used in rubric given by IELTS, it means the information in the chart/graph is in the past and this means you will use a past tense.

Hello Liz, since the introduction in task 1 is almost always too small to make a paragraph and one might need to add the overview to it, how then does a writer achieve 4 paragraphs?

Why do you need four paragraphs? There are no set rules about the number of paragraphs for writing task 1.

This would be my third time over the years doing IELTS test and yet still referring to your website so I can study well. Thanks and hats off to all this hard work you’ve done here!! Lots of love all the way from the Middle East 🙂

Great to know you can still benefit from my lessons. Lots of luck in your next test 🙂

Hello Ma’am,

You justify the value of knowledge!! Thanks a lot. I am constantly following your blog as am preparing for IELTS. The content and way of explanation is amazing. Hats off to your incredible work and effort.

I’m very pleased you find my website useful 🙂

Hey Liz, You are brilliant

Hey Liz, I follow your website regularly and found it very useful comparative to any other sites available these days, and even heard from one of a British Council Examiner as he suggested to follow your website for factual information, that amused me.

By the way, please post some more information for GT – Writing task 1 in a video form as I see most of the information is covered for Academic Students only.

Hope you consider my request.

Kindly do the needful. Nishanth

** Also please highlight any mistakes found in this comment **

Nice to know BC examiners are recommending my site 🙂 You can find some GT tips and useful links to model letters on this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-letter-writing-essential-tips/ . I stopped making videos due to health problems, but if I’m a bit stronger next year I might make a few short clips. I’ll put GT letters on my list 🙂

Get well soon Liz and thank you for this amazing site…

Yes it’s true. Once we attended a workshop by British council. They recommended your site there.

Hello Liz, Are we supposed to use indented paragraphs in our writing section? And for internet base IELT general training; will i write my texts/answers on anwers sheet or i type my answers on the computer. Thank you

It makes no difference if you indent or leave an empty line instead. As long as paragraphs are very easy to see, it is fine.

Dear Liz, Is writing task 1 is only for academic test, cannot able to find fins much question & answers for the general test. kindly elaborate for the general test which one I have to write, little confused.

See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-gt-academic-writing-differences/

20/05/2019 cue card topic Describe a practical skill What is it How you learned How difficult it is Explain how you felt

Thanks for sharing 🙂 However, you might want to consider posting this on a page for speaking 🙂

Hi liz Thanks! I find ur lessons realy helpful. Can u please explain which questions in writing task 1 do not need an overview? Will wait for ur reply.

If you are taking the academic IELTS test, all writing task 1 require an overview. See this page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/

Hi Liz, I took the test just this saturday. I’m worried i might have made a major mistake in task 1. The task description said ‘The plans show a coal mine before and after redevelopment into a visitor attraction’ and showed 2 pictures pre and post renovation of the coal mine. I only focused on the changes made (on the after picture) and used the future tense all throughout the overview and body paragraphs (i used the present tense for the intro) as i was misled by the word ‘plans’ and i assumed that the redevelopment wasn’t done yet (e.g ‘will undergo’ instead of ‘undertook’, ‘will be demolished’ instead of ‘was demolished’, ‘will be converted instead of ‘was converted’, etc.). I finished both tasks with 10 mins to spare and used that time to check for errors in grammar, spelling, vocab & sentence structures (i’m sure i at least have error-free sentences and good grammar). Can i still get at least a 7 for task 1 despite the wrong tense used?

Your score is based on Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Vocabulary and Grammar. Grammar counts for 25% of your marks and tenses are only one part of that.

DEAR LIZ .;,, Can we write piechart and bargraph in past tense if the date isnot mentiond in the question, One of my ielts teacher told me that would be fine,,but i want to hear from u Please help me

When no date is given, you should use present tense. However, if you choose past tense and stick to that tense throughout your whole report, it will be fine. The problem is when you mix them up and get confused which tense you are using.

Hi mam We can’t write all task 1 in passive voice? And Any disadvantage of use passive voice in task 1?

You must use the correct tense for the dates given and also for the information presented. If you have problems about using the passive voice and don’t understand when to use it or when not to use it, I suggest you find an English language teacher to help you or buy a grammar book.

Hi, Liz! Should I write in future if there is the word estimated in the writing task one, like estimated sales, and no dates given? Thaks in advance.

“Estimated sales” indicates future.

Hey Liz, I wanna ask something. How about the word ‘before and after’ I mean in cambridge ielts 11 theres a question in test 4 about total number of visitors to a museum BEFORE and AFTER its refurbished. There is no dates, just those before and after. I’m kinda confused whether to use present or past tense? Thanks in advance.

Before – use past. After – use present.

Hi I can’t. Write. Task 1

https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/

I have never ever tried to write any first task essays which would be with mixed time of past and future tenses, but as I recently took my exam, I was faced with the mixed tenses and could not deal with that and thus got a low score. So that, could you please explain me or give me a link to a page where I could learn the main structure of the type of task one question? I would be really thankful for your help me if you do not mind please, give me some more example essays with band 9

The first time you need to get clear is that task 1 is NOT an essay. Writing task 1 is a report based on data or any visual representation of information given. If the datas are from past to present, there is no specific structure. The report is structure as usual depending on key features. The grammar will reflect both time period: “The number of sales rose from 5,000 in 2000 and is estimated to reach a peak of 30,000 in 2050.” (both past and future forms)

I would like to ask you whether it is bad to start an introduction for task 1 with something like this or not:

‘The given visual matirial provides us with the information about …”

I just wondered if this word ‘us’ is too informal for this kind of report?

This is not appropriate to use for writing task 1. If it is a table, then you introduce a table, not “given visual material”.

Hi Liz, First and foremost, Thank you very much for the great work that you are doing, You are simply awesome! I am going to appear for IELTS – GT this month end, and I have few queries to you:

1. While answering to Listening or Reading section, for sentence completion kind of questions, do we need to use Initial caps even if it is not a noun? I have this confusion. Do we lose mark for this?

2. What does it mean, if the part of the answer is mentioned in the brackets? Eg. (a) Pilot study, though there instructed as ‘No more than 3 words’

3. In some of the practice test answer keys, they have mentioned the answer both in singular and plural as ‘Instructor/Instructors’ – Is it correct or safe to mention like this? I am losing marks mostly in plural during my practice sessions

4.In a scenario, the instruction clearly states as ‘One word only’ but the answer for a question is 2 years. Without specifying the word ‘years’ the sentence would not deliver a correct meaning in the listening test. What do I need to do on this scenario? Will bracketing work on this occasion?

5.I am appearing through BC and my friend appeared through IDP in the early on this month. I happened to get his practice work book and it seems very tough when compared to BC workbook. I had a confidence while worked out with my BC practice tests whereas the same is lacking with IDP. Why there is a difference? B’coz I heard that the exam will be same irrespective of the centers, but this leaves a doubt in me.

It would be of an immense help if you could kindly advise on the above questions. Thanks Liz.

And one more request Liz, I would like my writing on task 1 to get evaluated by you, if your time permits, so that I could do some fine tuning on the same. If you are ok, kindly let me know your email to send the pic of my writings, since i have written in a paper.

Thanks again LIZ 🙂

Hi, sounds like there is still a lot you are unsure about in IELTS. Always check my information page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-help-faq/ . Here are some answers to your questions: 1. Capital letters are not considered in listening or reading. That means you can use them, not use them, use them incorrectly, mix them up – nothing matters. Just ignore them. If you want to write all answers in capitals, do so. 2. In answer keys there are can sometimes be more than one possible answer. For example, “a pilot” or “pilot”. When this is the case, the answer key is written as “(a) pilot” which shows the “a” is optional. You can’t write like this in your test. You must choose one answer and write it. 3. You must write only one answer – singular or plural. This is a test, and it’s testing your understanding of plurals. 4. IELTS never write “one word only”. Are you using real IELTS tests which are published by IELTS. If you are downloading for free from other websites, you are not using real tests. Be aware of fakes. Use the IELTS Cambridge test books from 1 to 11. 5. BC do not write their tests. IDP do not write their test. The IELTS tests are written by a third party. Any difference between tests is random and not based on centers. Sorry I don’t offer marking at present. See my main writing task 1 page: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/ Good luck!

There is this book for writing task 1 that i’ve purchased and it has a sentence “The sewer line close to my home overflew resulting into streaming of sewer water on the road” I wanted to know if i can use “overflowed” instead of “overflew” Because the word “overflew” sounds wrong to me somehow.

Please help

This sentence is grammatically incorrect with more than one mistake. I recommend you stop using that book.

Is it still true that the writing Task-1 for GT would have letter writing and not any graphs which we need to explain?

Thanks, Balu

The Oficial IELTS Websites still make it clear that GT writing task 1 is a letter.

Thanks for the clarification, Liz.

I have one more question on GT Reading. I am appearing for IELTS GT and have been going through Cambridge practice tests for IELTS. I find that the GT reading samples given in these books are easier and have moderate vocabulary in the reading passages when compared to the IDP sample tests, that I received on booking my test. The IDP reading samples are tough to interpret in the given time and have complex sentence structures. Would it be same in the actual test as well?

Thanks, Balaji

The tests are not written by IDP or BC. So, the test doesn’t vary – of course individual tests may slightly but that’s all.

thank you very much. 7/10 it is useful .

Hello Liz I’m an English teacher in Greece and I would like some information on how to help students with the IELTS exams. Any books to study, apart from your great tips?

On the whole, I learned my tips by doing test after test myself. I also spent a lot of time helping students and understanding how best to help them.

Hello , I have a question could you please tell me how important it is to paraphrase the writing task 2 in our introduction ( the first 2 lines of the essay) as i have seen on many blogs people just start will the topic such as , It is seen, It is true , or just the answer of what is asked and not paraphrase the question given .

You can’t copy the question, you need to paraphrase it which means write it again in your own words.

just a quick question, in listening section if the answer is “internet users” will the Users of internet” be considered correct or not.

It would be wrong. You must write down what you hear.

Hi Liz, i used your website for preparing for my test today. Please I have an issue. My task one had no dates but they gave a general statement in past tense (a study was done on global warming and the tables shows the suggestion of respondents). Since there was no date, I used present tense to answer, but someone told me that I should have used past tense because of the statement.

If the information given to you shows it is past tense, you should use past tense. You can’t ignore that you have been told it is all in the past.

Hi there Liz, I would just like to verify if it is possible to use past tense in writing task 1 even if there is no specific time indicated in the question? Thank you vry much

It is recommended to use the present tense when there are no dates given. However, if you decide to use the past in this case and you use it all the way through your task 1 report, then it wouldn’t be considered a big mistake and you could still do quite well.

This is good tips I read. This is my first time to join to IELTS course as I am preparing for exams but it needs a time to prepare all vocabulary.

Yes, take time to prepare ideas for topics in speaking and writing as well as vocabulary.

Dear great teacher liz Thank you for your valuable information “I had hoped that you would come in time” such a new sentence for me

may you long live

Better to write: I had hoped you would have arrived in time.

Thanks for all your free tips and lessons pertaining to IELTS. I really found them valuable when I took the test on the fourth of March 2017.

I hope your test went well 🙂

hello mam…if there is verb given in past tense in question ……then in which tense i shoud write?

If the dates are in the past, you use past tense, usually past simple.

Thnks Liz All the information is very useful for me.

You’re welcome 🙂

I cannot find your lessons for Letter writing task on YouTube.

I don’t have any videos for that yet. Just my pages of tips and model letters: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-letter-writing-essential-tips/

Thank for your reply. I will study it.

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