Verb Tenses and Passives

Overview

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This is the first course in the Learn English: Advanced Grammar and Punctuation specialty. In this course, you will review the verb tenses that you learned in beginning English classes and learn about a few tenses you may not know very well. In all, you'll cover all 12 of the English verb tenses and passive verb forms. Most importantly, you'll learn how to blend these tenses, which is what native speakers frequently do. This course is vital to your becoming a more fluent English speaker. Please note that the free version of this class gives you access to all of the instructional videos and handouts. The peer feedback and quizzes are only available in the paid version.

Syllabus

Simple, Progressive, and Perfect Verb Tenses Review

In this first week, you will get to know your classmates and review key English verb tenses you have likely studied before. Strengthening your foundation is essential before moving on to more advanced grammar concepts. Throughout this module, you will revisit the nine core English verb tenses, identify gaps in your understanding, and practice using them accurately in context.

Perfect Progressive Tenses

In this week, you will learn the final three verb tenses in English: the perfect progressive tenses. By the end of this module, you will be familiar with all 12 English verb tenses. These tenses combine elements of both perfect and progressive forms. Since you have already learned these forms separately, this module will help you build on that knowledge and apply it to more complex structures. Throughout the week, you will review how these tenses are formed and practice using them accurately in context.

Passives and Perfect Modals

In this week, you will learn more advanced verb structures, including perfect modals and the passive voice. These structures build on your understanding of verb tenses and help you express more complex ideas about the past. You will learn how to make guesses and inferences about past events, express regret and obligation, and describe actions without focusing on who performed them. Mastering these forms will improve both your accuracy and fluency in written and spoken English.

Blending Tenses

In this final week, you will focus on one of the most important and challenging aspects of English grammar: blending verb tenses. You will learn how to combine different tenses to describe relationships between past, present, and future events in a clear and natural way. You will explore how tenses work together in complex sentences, how time markers influence tense choice, and how to avoid common errors when shifting between tenses. Developing this skill will help you communicate more accurately and fluently in both spoken and written English.