When to Use Past Tense to Talk About Present & Future

The video tutorial explains how past tense can be used in English to convey urgency, uncertainty, politeness, and hypotheticals. It provides examples and practice sentences to illustrate these concepts, showing how past tense can be more effective than present tense in certain contexts.

Why might the past tense be used to convey urgency in English?

• It makes the sentence longer.

• It implies that something should have already occurred.

• It is grammatically incorrect.

• It sounds more formal.

How does using past tense affect the expression of uncertainty in plans?

• It makes plans sound more definite.

• It adds a sense of urgency.

• It makes the sentence more polite.

• It increases the level of uncertainty.

Which of the following sentences is more polite?

• You should help me.

• I am hoping you can help me.

• I was hoping you could help me.

• Help me, please.

In which situation is past tense used to express politeness?

• When making a demand.

• When expressing a hypothetical.

• When asking for a favor.

• When stating a fact.

What is the effect of using past tense with 'suppose' or 'what if'?

• It makes the situation sound more hypothetical.

• It makes the situation sound more real.

• It makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.

• It adds urgency to the situation.

Which of the following is correct when expressing a wish?

• I wish I will have more time.

• I wish I am having more time.

• I wish I had more time.

• I wish I have more time.

What is the correct past tense form to use with 'if only'?

• If only she feels the same.

• If only she felt the same.

• If only she will feel the same.

• If only she is feeling the same.