OET Tenses in Writing
TENSES in OET Writing
In the OET Writing sub-test, a strong grasp of English tenses is essential to for the clarity and accuracy of information.
For instance, writing:
"The patient experiences chest pain" (Simple Present Tense)
instead of
"The patient experienced chest pain" (Past Simple)
can change the entire context of the situation.
The first sentence suggests an ongoing issue, while the second one indicates a past event.
The four crucial tenses and their relevance in OET.
1. Simple Present.
Usage: Describe habits, routines, facts, and general truths
Example:
Mr Roberts has chronic asthma.
Ms Smith lives alone and uses a wheelchair.
She has a history of severe chest pain.
2. Present Continuous
Usage: Describes ongoing action at the moment of writing.
Example:
Mrs Jones is experiencing severe back pain.
She is taking two tablets daily.
He is responding well to the new treatment regimen.
3. Past Simple
Usage: Describes completed action or events in the past (whether long-term or recent)
Examples:
On examination, her abdomen was tender on palpation.
She reported a sharp pain in her abdomen yesterday.
He presented at the clinic with shortness of breath and a persistent cough.
His blood pressure was elevated at 140/90.
4. Present perfect:
Usage: Describes actions or events that happened at an unspecified time in the past and have relevance or connection to the present.
It is also used for experiences or changes over time.
Example:
Since her last visit, Mrs Parker's pain levels have reduced from an 8 to a 4.
Mr Green has shown significant improvement since starting the treatment.
She has expressed concerns about potential side effects.
Exercise
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in the bracket.
1. Mr Green ...... in the hospital since 2020. (work)
2. He ....... a severe back pain when he arrived at the hospital yesterday. (have)
3. Nurses ....... vital signs every four hours as a standard procedure. ( check)
4. Currently, the research team ...... on a new vaccine for the flu. (work)
5. Last year, he ......... a ground breaking paper on genetic mutations. (publish)
6. Mr Peter ....... any allergic reactions to medications in the past. (not have)
7. The physiotherapist ....... with Mrs Smith's rehabilitation plan next week. (start)
8. The hospital ...... a new wing to accommodate more patients (build)
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