English tenses practice
English tenses practice: one set per tense, then use them out loud
Quick answer
SpeakBase has a free practice set for every English tense, ordered by level and explained in Hebrew: at A1 present simple, present progressive, past simple, will and going to; at A2 past progressive, present perfect, past perfect and two comparison drills for the mistakes Hebrew speakers make most; at B1 future perfect and a mixed practice of all tenses. Every set opens with 7 study modes, free. After written practice, Kate, the AI speaking tutor, practises conversation with you out loud and corrects every tense mistake the moment you make it.
Most Hebrew speakers can recite the tense table and still get tenses wrong when they speak. Hebrew has three tenses and English has twelve, and most of the difference is aspect, not time. This practice works in two steps: first a focused set per tense until the form is automatic, then free speaking, because that is where you find out whether the tenses have really stuck.
Practice sets, by level
Every set opens free with 7 study modes: flashcards, learn, test, match, fill in the blank, blocks and audio. Explanations are in Hebrew.
A2
In what order to practise
- Start with present simple and present progressive, then go straight to the drill that compares them. It is the most common Hebrew speaker mistake, because Hebrew "אני אוכל" covers both.
- Then past simple and past progressive, and the comparison drill again.
- Give the present perfect its own time. Hebrew has no equivalent, so it is the hardest tense to feel.
- Will and going to, then past perfect and future perfect.
- Finish with the mixed practice of all tenses, so you choose the right tense without being told which one.
The three mistakes to look for
- Present simple vs present progressive: I eat breakfast every day, but I am eating right now.
- Present perfect vs past simple: I have lived here for five years (and still do) vs I lived there for five years (not any more).
- The auxiliary do in questions and negatives: Do you like it? and I don't know, not You like it? or I not know.
Why practise out loud too
Written practice gives you time to think, so it teaches the form. Conversation gives you no time, and that is where you see what has really stuck. In SpeakBase Talk Kate talks with you in English about a real topic, and when you say I live here since 2020 she stops, gives you the right form, I have lived here since 2020, explains why in Hebrew, and asks you to say the sentence again. The first 5-minute lesson is free.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I practise English tenses for free?
SpeakBase has a free practice set for every English tense, by level from A1 to B1, including comparison drills and a mixed practice of all tenses. Every set opens with 7 study modes at no cost. The explanations are in Hebrew.
How many tenses does English have?
Twelve: three times (past, present and future) times four aspects (simple, progressive, perfect and perfect progressive). Hebrew has three tenses and no aspect, which is why Hebrew speakers struggle with the distinctions between them.
Which tense is hardest for Hebrew speakers?
The present perfect, because Hebrew has no equivalent. It links the past to now: I have lost my keys means the keys are still lost.
How do I practise tenses in speaking?
In SpeakBase Talk you speak out loud with Kate, an AI speaking tutor, who corrects every tense mistake as you make it, explains it in your language and asks you to say the right sentence. The first lesson is free.
Practise tenses out loud with KateFirst lesson free · real-time correction · explanations in your language