ESL002: Intermediate English as a Second Language

Unit 1: Language Skills

• Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • recognize the form and function of present and past tense; and
    
  • identify present and past tense time markers.

• 1.1: Verb Basics – Tense, Aspect, and Mood

  We start Unit 1 with a review of three features of verbs. Sometimes, choosing the correct tense in English can seem difficult, so this review will provide a basic understanding of how verbs are different from other parts of speech. This will help you feel more comfortable understanding and using English as verbs are very important to the meaning of a sentence in English. Because verbs are the main elements of English sentences, we focus on verbs for two main reasons:
  

  • by knowing verb features, you will have an easier time using them correctly in your writing;
  • by understanding how verbs are used, you will also have an easier time reading sentences correctly.

  • 1.1.1: Verb Basics – Let's Study

    These materials include more information about verbs and how to use them. After you read the explanations and watch the videos to learn about verbs, you will have a chance to test your understanding by completing practice activities.
    

    • Verb Tense, Aspect, Mood Overview Page

      Mark as completed

      Let's start by first reviewing the three features of verbs to know their definition and examples. Next, we will learn about two specific tenses in more detail to understand how to form and use them correctly to build sentences.
      

  • 1.1.2: Verb Basics – Let's Practice

    Now that we know what the three main features of verbs are and we reviewed how each one is used, let's put our knowledge into practice.
    

    • Verb Tense, Aspect, Mood Practice Page

      Mark as completed

      The activities below allow you to find out how well you understand verb features. If you have a difficult time identifying a verb's tense, aspect, or mood, you may return to review the information above and then try these practice activities again.
      

  • 1.1.3: Verb Basics – Let's Apply

    Now that you know verb features, let's see if we can easily identify them in a text.
    

    • Verb Tense, Aspect, Mood Discussion Forum

      Make forum posts: 1

      For this discussion, look at Unit 1 in the ESL001 course and choose one or two sentences from any lesson. Then, identify the tense, aspect, and mood of the main verb(s) used in that sentence.

      Share your answer and see what kind of samples your classmates chose. If you wish, reply to your classmates with feedback or suggestions about their submissions.

• 1.2: Present Tense – Simple and Continuous

  Now we know and can recognize different verb features. This is helpful to guide our choices when using verbs to best express our thoughts. We will continue by learning when and how to use verbs in the present. Standard English uses specific rules about the form and meaning of different present tense-aspect combinations, so it is important to know and follow them to communicate successfully.
  

  • 1.2.1: Present Tense – Let's Study

    The materials below include information about forming and using the simple present tense and continuous present tense in Standard English. After you read the explanations and watch the videos to learn about these four present tense-aspect combinations, you will be able to test your understanding by completing practice activities.
    

    • Simple and Continuous: Form Page

      Mark as completed

      Now that we know how to form the simple present tense and present continuous tense in the affirmative, negative, and interrogative, let's look at how they are different from each other when using them in sentences.
      

    • Simple and Continuous: Usage Page

      Mark as completed

      Let's start by reviewing how to form the simple present tense and the present continuous tense in Standard English. Next, we will look at when to use each to correctly express our thoughts in a sentence.
      

  • 1.2.2: Present Tense – Let's Practice

    Now that we know how to choose between the simple present tense and present continuous tense to share our thoughts in English, let's put our knowledge into practice.
    

    • Present Tense Practice Book

      Mark as completed

      These activities give you the opportunity to find out how well you understand how to form and use the present simple and continuous tenses. If you have a difficult time forming and using verbs in the present, you may return to review the information above and then try these practice activities again.
      

  • 1.2.3: Present Tense – Let's Apply

    At the start of the course, you identified verb tense, aspect, and mood in a sentence. Now that you know more about the simple and continuous aspects of the present tense, you can use verbs more confidently to express your ideas in English.
    

    • Present Tense Discussion Forum

      View Make forum posts: 1

• 1.3: Past Tense – Simple and Continuous

  Now, we will look at how we form and use the past. The simple past tense is also one of the most common tenses in English. As we did in the previous lesson, keeping in mind parts of speech, sentence structure, and verb mood can help you form and use tenses correctly.
  

  • 1.3.1: Past Tense – Let's Study

    These materials include information about forming and using the simple past tense and past continuous tense in Standard English. After you read the explanations and watch the videos to learn about these four past tense aspect combinations, you will have a chance to test your understanding by completing practice activities.
    

    • Simple and Continuous: Form Book

      Mark as completed

      Let's continue by reviewing how to form the simple past tense and the past continuous tense in Standard English. Next, we will look at when to use each to correctly express our thoughts in a sentence.
      

    • Simple and Continuous: Usage Book

      Mark as completed

      Now that we know how to form the simple past tense and past continuous tense in the affirmative, negative, and interrogative, let's look at how they are different from each other when using them in sentences.
      

  • 1.3.2: Past Tense – Let's Practice

    Now that we know how to choose between the simple past tense and past continuous tense to share our thoughts in English, let's put our knowledge into practice.
    

    • Past Tense Practice Book

      Mark as completed

      The activities below allow you to find out how well you understand how to form and use the simple past tense and past continuous tense. If you have difficulty forming and using verbs in the past, you may return to review the information above and then try these practice activities again.
      

  • 1.3.3: Past Tense – Let's Apply

    Now that you know more about the simple and continuous aspects of past tense, you can use it more confidently to express your ideas in English.
    

    • Past Tense Discussion Forum

      Make forum posts: 1

  • Putting It All Together

    You have learned about important verb features and basic guidelines to correctly form and use four common tense-aspect combinations in English. This is a lot to take in, for sure! This section will help you review what you learned in Unit 1.
    

    • Let's Review Unit 1 Book

      Mark as completed

      Watch these videos and complete the practice activity to review what you learned about forming and using aspects of the present and past tenses.
      

• Unit 1 Assessment

  • Unit 1 Assessment Quiz

    Receive a grade

    Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

    • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
    • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
    • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.