Learning Objectives
- Master the main English tenses
- Use perfect and continuous forms correctly
- Identify time markers
- Apply in OBC-style essays on culture and society
- Avoid common mistakes
1. Present tenses
1.1 Simple present
Habits, facts, general truths. Markers: every day, always, usually, often.
- « I study at Lycée Bilingue. »
- « Cameroon has 10 regions. »
1.2 Present continuous
Actions in progress. Markers: now, currently, at the moment.
- « I am writing an essay. »
1.3 Present perfect
Past action linked to present. Markers: for, since, already, just, yet, ever.
- « He has lived in Yaoundé for 10 years. »
2. Past tenses
- Simple past : completed past (yesterday, last year). « Cameroon gained independence in 1960. »
- Past continuous : action in progress at past moment. « I was reading when she called. »
- Past perfect : action before another past. « When I arrived, she had left. »
3. Future tenses
- Will + V : decision, prediction. « I will help you. »
- Going to + V : planned future. « We are going to visit Limbé. »
- Future continuous : « By 9 PM, I will be sleeping. »
4. Reference table
| Tense | Formula | Example |
|---|
| Simple present | V/V-s | I study. |
| Present continuous | am/is/are + V-ing | I am studying. |
| Present perfect | have/has + V-ed | I have studied. |
| Simple past | V-ed | I studied. |
| Past perfect | had + V-ed | I had studied. |
| Future will | will + V | I will study. |
Application
Translate using correct tenses:
- « Je vis à Buea depuis 5 ans. » → « I have lived in Buea for 5 years. »
- « Hier, j'ai vu un éléphant à Waza. » → « Yesterday, I saw an elephant at Waza. »
- « Demain à 10 h, j'écrirai mon essay. » → « Tomorrow at 10, I will be writing my essay. »
Common pitfalls :- Using simple past with 'since/for' (use present perfect)
- Using 'will' for planned actions (use 'going to')
- Forgetting '-ing' after am/is/are
Key takeaways
- Simple = facts/habits ; continuous = in progress ; perfect = completed with relevance
- Present perfect: for, since, already, yet, ever
- Past perfect for « before another past »
- Future: will (decision), going to (plan)
Further learning
