Steps by step guide on how to learn grammar tenses

To properly learn a grammar tense, you have to find a resource that explains when to use the tense and gives you plenty of examples. Take notes of the information you have collected and try to explain the tense to yourself by comparing it to other tenses in your target language, and most importantly: Use it immediately in writing or speaking.

I’m a language teacher and have also learned Portuguese alone. I’ll let you in on the formula that works for me and my students to learn tenses to try it and see for yourself!

For details on how to tackle learning tenses alone by building a schedule, please take a look at my other post. Don’t be afraid to learn grammar alone

• Research the grammar tense using different sources. Look it up on several websites and in your book. I know from experience that using various sources can help to understand the overall picture. Don’t forget about YouTube as a potential source of information, especially if you are an audio learner!
• Make sure you fully understand when to use a certain tense. Most of the time, not knowing when to use a certain tense causes errors and not the sentence structure. Therefore it is essential to find sources that explain it clearly and simply. You may have to search for a while to find a good one, but once you find it, it’s very useful.
• Take notes. Make simple notes in ONE notebook that you can look up when in doubt. Use graphics if it helps! My notes look like this: My example is le présent de l’indicatif tense in French and my notes look like this:
  • Name of the tense:

  le présent de l’indicatif

  • Structure:

  (Basically the conjugation)

  • When to use it: (with examples)

  I. Current actions and situations
  Je regarde la télé. I am watching TV.

  II. Habitual actions
  Tous les soirs, je vais au judo. I take Judo every evening.

  III. Absolute and general truths
  La Terre tourne autour du Soleil. The Earth revolves around the Sun.

  IV. Actions which will occur immediately
  J’arrive ! I’ll be right there!

  V. Conditions, such as in si clauses
  Si vous voulez. If you like.

• Make up example sentences. At least three. As you can see above, I include them in my notes.
• Compare it to the other tenses of the target language you have already learned and see the differences. There is a difference between ‘I work’ and ‘I am working’, after all, right? Try to compare the tense with other tenses of your target language and not your native language as a reference to avoid mistakes and confusion.
• Record yourself explaining the tense. It is such a fun way to practice and an awesome exercise! I often ask my students to explain to me the tense I’ve taught them. It helps to see if you understood it or need more research. Listen to it when you are cooking, baking, taking a shower, etc… Explaining the material you are learning to yourself helps you to organize your thoughts, and listening to it frequently helps to embed the information.
• Use it immediately! This is another magic trick to remember something for longer. Use it whenever you can. The quicker you put something you learned into use the better the chance that you will remember it for longer.

Hope this cleared up some questions and gave you confidence that you can do it!

Zsófi

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