Past tense is one of the three fundamental verb tenses, including present, past, and future. It is used to describe actions or events that occurred in the past and is further divided into four types:

1. Simple Past:

She worked hard to win the game.

2. Past Continuous:

She was working hard to win the game.

3. Past Perfect:

She had worked hard to win the game.

4. Past Perfect Continuous:

She had been working hard to win the game.

To use past tense correctly, it’s essential to learn the three forms of verbs, particularly the second form for simple past tense and the third form for past perfect tense. For instance, the verb “work” has the following forms:

1st Form              2nd Form             3rd Form

Work     Worked Worked

Using past tense accurately is crucial to avoid mistakes in IELTS Writing and Speaking.

In IELTS Academic Task 1, when describing bar graphs that represent past years like the 1990s or 1980s, it is essential to use the past tense. For example:

In 2010, the percentage of students who qualified for the exam was 70%.

The average price increased to 50% by the year 2000.

The trend of online shopping continuously increased from 2012 to 2016.

After 2013, a sharp fall was observed before it could reach the peak level of 25000.

Similarly, in IELTS Speaking Cue Card, topics often refer to the past, and it is advisable to describe them using the past tense. For instance:

Describe a historical place you visited recently:

Last month, I visited Agra city to see Taj Mahal along with my family and friends. It was so mesmerizing that I felt like being on top of the world watching that historical monument. In my childhood days, I had only heard long tales about its beauty, but when I saw it with my own eyes, I realized its importance.

Exercise:

1. The following table represents the scores achieved by three teams in a quiz contest in the past tense:

Year        2000     2005     2010

Team A 20%       40%       60%

Team B  50%       60%       10%

Team C  70%       30%       70%

2. Descriptions of the following topics in the past tense:

Describe a road accident you saw:

Last week, while walking down the street, I witnessed a minor road accident involving two cars. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, but it caused a significant traffic delay.

Describe a new activity you did in your childhood:

When I was a child, I tried rollerblading for the first time. It was an exhilarating experience, and I remember feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness as I glided along the pavement.

Describe the day you won a contest:

On a memorable day last year, I participated in a singing contest and won the first prize. The audience’s applause and the sense of accomplishment I felt were truly unforgettable.

3. Complete the following sentences using past tense:

Last night, I played the guitar and enjoyed a lot.

It was observed from the report that investing in the new product led to the reduced growth of the business.

Hitler was not born a brutal tyrant; he became one. Hitler dreamt of a career as an artist.

His father had rejected the idea, but after he died in 1903, Hitler would try to make his dream a reality.

World War Two was the most destructive global conflict in history. It began when Nazi Germany unleashed ferocious attacks across Europe – but it spread to the Soviet Union, China, Japan, and the United States.

For decades, immigration had been changing the face of Britain, and mainstream culture became increasingly fascinated by diversity.

Dominic Sandbrook explains how the glossy pages of The Face championed street fashion and club culture and became a source of inspiration for many British youngsters.