Verb Tenses and Aspect in Academic Writing

Learning goals

In this module, you will choose suitable tenses for general facts, past events, and continuing situations; distinguish the present perfect from the past simple; use tense consistently when discussing research; and describe changes and trends with accurate verb forms.

Step 1 — Read and discover

Read the passage. Notice the bold verb forms and the time they refer to.

How Cities Are Changing

Cities have changed considerably over the last few decades. In the past, many urban planners focused mainly on roads and buildings. Today, however, they are paying more attention to public spaces, transport, and the quality of everyday life.

Research shows that access to parks and safe walking routes can improve residents’ well-being. In one recent study, researchers examined how people used public spaces in several neighbourhoods. They found that residents visited parks more often when the parks were easy to reach. The study has encouraged some local authorities to reconsider how they design new developments.

Urban life is also becoming more complex. As populations grow, cities face pressure to provide housing and reliable public services. Some authorities have introduced new transport systems, while others are testing different ways to reduce traffic. These projects do not always produce immediate results, but they can provide useful evidence for future decisions.

Although cities have made progress in some areas, important problems remain. For example, housing costs rose sharply in many places during the last decade, and some residents still struggle to find affordable homes. Planners will need to consider both present needs and long-term consequences.

Check your understanding

1. What does the passage say about cities over recent decades?Try again

A. They have changed considerably.B. They have stayed mostly the same.C. They stopped growing.

1. What does the passage say about cities over recent decades?

✓

2. What did the recent study find about parks?Try again

A. Residents avoided parks when they were easy to reach.B. Residents visited parks more often when the parks were easy to reach.C. The study only looked at transport systems.

2. What did the recent study find about parks?

✓

3. What do planners need to consider, according to the final paragraph?Try again

A. Only past needsB. Only short-term costsC. Present needs and long-term consequences

3. What do planners need to consider, according to the final paragraph?

✓

Step 2 — Understand the grammar

Study the grammar cards for present simple, past simple, present perfect, continuous forms, and common time expressions. Notice whether each verb refers to a general fact, a finished past event, or a connection with now.

Grammar cards

Present simple

Subject + base verb (add -s/-es for he, she, it)B1-B2

Use for general facts, established knowledge, and regular patterns.

“Research shows that sleep affects concentration.”

Past simple

Subject + past formB1-B2

Use for completed actions at a finished past time.

“The team collected the data in 2022.”

Present perfect

Subject + have/has + past participleB1-B2

Use for past events connected to the present, without focusing on a finished time.

“Researchers have identified several possible causes.”

Present continuous

Subject + am/is/are + verb-ingB1-B2

Use for actions in progress and developing trends.

“Several universities are testing new assessment methods.”

Present perfect continuous

Subject + have/has been + verb-ingB1-B2

Emphasises an ongoing process and its duration.

“Scientists have been monitoring air quality for six months.”

Finished-time expressions

Past simple + yesterday / last year / in 2020B1-B2

Finished past-time expressions normally take the past simple.

“The university published the report last year.”

Since and for

Present perfect (continuous) + since/forB1-B2

Use since for a starting point and for for a duration when the situation connects to now.

“The organisation has monitored energy use since January.”

General facts in academic writing

Present simpleB1-B2

Use the present simple for general claims that remain true beyond one past event.

“Higher temperatures affect energy use.”

Describing a completed study

Past simpleB1-B2

Use the past simple to report completed research procedures at a specified past time.

“The researchers examined 800 responses in 2023.”

Reporting what results show

Present simpleB1-B2

Use the present simple when describing what a table, report, or study indicates now.

“The results show a clear difference between the groups.”

Recent change

Subject + have/has + past participleB1-B2

Use the present perfect for changes over a period leading up to the present.

“Online learning has become more common.”

Current trends

Subject + am/is/are + verb-ingB1-B2

Use the present continuous to emphasise a trend currently developing.

“More companies are adopting flexible working policies.”

Stative verbs

Normally use simple forms with know, believe, understand, needB1-B2

Many verbs describing states are not normally used in continuous forms.

“Researchers know more about the problem now.”

Present perfect simple vs continuous

have/has + past participle vs have/has been + verb-ingB1-B2

The simple form often highlights a result or amount; the continuous form often highlights activity or duration.

“They have analysed 500 responses. / They have been analysing responses all morning.”

Already and yet

have/has + already/yet + past participleB1-B2

Already signals an earlier-than-expected event; yet is common in questions and negatives.

“The new policy has already led to several changes.”

Still

Subject + still + simple or perfect verb formB1-B2

Use still to show that a situation continues.

“Some residents still struggle to find affordable homes.”

Future prediction

will + base verbB1-B2

Use will for predictions, expectations, or future needs.

“Planners will need to consider long-term consequences.”

Tense consistency

Choose each tense according to its time and purposeB1-B2

A paragraph may use several tenses when the time reference or purpose changes logically.

“The team conducted the survey. The results show a pattern.”

Present simple vs present continuous

Simple for general patterns; continuous for developing trendsB1-B2

Choose the form that matches whether the statement is general or a current development.

“The city invests each year. The city is investing this year.”

Future needs and consequences

will + base verb / will need to + base verbB1-B2

Use to discuss a likely future action, requirement, or consequence.

“Researchers will need to examine the issue further.”

Step 3 — Choose the correct form

Choose the best answer, then check your choices.

Step 4 — Complete the sentences

Type the missing word or phrase. More than one answer may be accepted when it fits the sentence.

1.The population of the region (grow) over the last ten years.Try again✓

2.The research team (interview) 120 participants in 2022.Try again✓

3.Many employers (offer) flexible working arrangements nowadays.Try again✓

4.The organisation (monitor) energy use since January.Try again✓

5.The article (explain) why the results matter.Try again✓

6.The university (publish) the findings last month.Try again✓

7.Researchers (currently / investigate) the relationship between exercise and concentration.Try again✓

8.The new policy (already / lead) to several changes.Try again✓

Step 5 — Choose the correct form

Choose the best correction or answer.

Step 6 — Match the sentence beginnings and endings

Match each beginning with the best ending.

1. The researchers published the reportTry again

1. ✓

2. The demand for online coursesTry again

2. ✓

3. At the moment, the councilTry again

3. ✓

4. The studyTry again

4. ✓

5. The number of people working remotelyTry again

5. ✓

Step 7 — Quick review

Choose the best answer for each question.