Grammar · From lesson 11
TOEIC Grammar: Tenses, Present Perfect vs Past Simple, Since and For
The TOEIC tests a limited set of tenses, and almost always gives you a time marker. Learn the markers with the tenses.
Free extract from the Noto Tracks TOEIC course
| Tense | Form | Use | Typical markers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present simple | works / does not work | Habits, schedules, facts, policies | every day, usually, always, each month, generally, on Mondays |
| Present continuous | is working | In progress now or around now; fixed future arrangements | now, currently, at the moment, this week, presently |
| Present perfect | has worked | From the past up to now; recent result; unfinished period | since, for, so far, yet, already, recently, just, over the past year, to date |
| Present perfect continuous | has been working | Activity continuing up to now, with focus on duration | for, since, all morning, lately |
| Past simple | worked | Finished action at a finished time | yesterday, last month, ago, in 2021, when + past |
| Past continuous | was working | In progress at a past moment; interrupted action | when + past simple, while, at 3 P.M. yesterday |
| Past perfect | had worked | Before another past event or past moment | by the time + past, before + past, by last year, already |
| Future (will) | will work | Predictions, decisions, promises, scheduled events | tomorrow, next week, soon, in the coming months, shortly |
| Be going to | is going to work | Plans already made; predictions from evidence | next quarter, this summer |
| Future continuous | will be working | In progress at a future moment | at this time tomorrow, during next week |
| Future perfect | will have worked | Completed before a future moment | by + future time, by the time + present |
Present perfect or past simple?
This is the most tested tense contrast. A finished time (yesterday, in May, two weeks ago, last year, when I was in Toronto) requires the past simple. A period that connects to now (since 2020, for six months, so far this year, recently) requires the present perfect.
- Ms. Ferreira joined the firm three years ago. (finished time)
- Ms. Ferreira has worked at the firm for three years. (up to now)
- Ms. Ferreira has worked at the firm since she graduated. (main clause present perfect; the since clause, a starting point, in the past simple)
Since is followed by a point in time (since March, since 9 A.M., since the merger); for by a length of time (for two weeks). Over the past/last + period and in recent years also signal the present perfect.
The future in schedules
Timetables and official schedules often use the present simple even for the future: The train leaves at 6:40 tomorrow. The conference begins on May 3. Personal arrangements often use the present continuous: I am meeting the auditors on Friday. On the TOEIC, will is usually the safe future form in a main clause, but do not reject these forms if they appear in a reading text.
The future perfect and the past perfect
Both forms put one event before another reference point.
- By the end of the month, we will have hired twelve new drivers. (complete before a future point)
- By the time the inspector arrived, the crew had already repaired the leak. (complete before a past point)
Since the new manager took over, the restaurant ------- its weekend hours twice.
(A) extends (B) extended (C) has extended (D) will extend
Answer: (C) — since + a past starting point describes a period up to now, so the main clause takes the present perfect. (B) would need a finished time (last year); the clause after since is in the past simple, which is normal, but the main verb is not.
Quick check: (a) We (signed / have signed) the lease two weeks ago. (b) Revenue (rose / has risen) steadily over the past five years. (c) By next June, the plant (will produce / will have produced) one million units. — Answers: (a) signed, (b) has risen, (c) will have produced.
More grammar points from this lesson
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This page is one section of a full lesson
Lesson 11, "Grammar course 2: Verbs", is in the Noto Tracks TOEIC course. The rest of it covers:
- 3. The future in time and condition clauses
- 5. Transitive and intransitive pairs
- 9. Causatives and verbs + object + base verb
- 11. The mandative subjunctive
- 12. Verb forms in Part 6
Also in the full lesson
- Practice questions
- Answer key with explanations
- One-page summary
50 questions, free, with an estimated score.
TOEIC is a registered trademark of ETS. This guide is not endorsed or approved by ETS. Noto Studio is not affiliated with ETS. All examples are original.