TOEFL Grammar: Time and aspect 10 medium-level rules, each shown with a correct sentence, the mistake learners most often make instead, and the TOEFL tasks where it counts.
Test Ninjas Research · Updated October 1, 2026
Choosing between the simple past, the present perfect and the progressive tells the reader when something happened and whether it is finished. In an email explaining a problem, or a discussion post describing an experience, the wrong choice can blur the timeline.
Part of the
TOEFL grammar guide : 120 rules in 12 topics. The cards are original teaching material checked against the linked references; they are not an ETS syllabus.
The rules 1. Habitual present Use the simple present for a repeated routine; do not add be before its ordinary verb.
Correct The shuttle usually leaves at seven.
Common trap · incorrect The shuttle usually is leave at seven.
What goes wrong: the trap uses “is leave” where the correct sentence has “leaves”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: Present simple
2. Progressive action now Use am, is, or are plus an ing form for an action happening now.
Correct She is writing the report right now.
Common trap · incorrect She writing the report right now.
What goes wrong: the trap leaves out “is”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: Present continuous
3. Past action in progress Use was or were plus an ing form for an action in progress at a past moment.
Correct I was studying when the lights went out.
Common trap · incorrect I was study when the lights went out.
What goes wrong: the trap uses “study” where the correct sentence has “studying”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: Past continuous and past simple
4. Present perfect form Use have or has plus a past participle for the present perfect.
Correct I have finished the summary.
Common trap · incorrect I have finish the summary.
What goes wrong: the trap uses “finish” where the correct sentence has “finished”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: Present perfect
5. Since a starting point Use since before the time an ongoing situation began.
Correct She has worked here since Monday.
Common trap · incorrect She has worked here since three days.
What goes wrong: the trap uses “three days” where the correct sentence has “Monday”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: For or since?
6. For a duration Use for before the length of an ongoing situation.
Correct We have waited for two hours.
Common trap · incorrect We have waited since two hours.
What goes wrong: the trap uses “since” where the correct sentence has “for”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: For or since?
7. Closed past time Use the simple past, not the present perfect, with a finished time such as last Friday.
Correct The lab closed last Friday.
Common trap · incorrect The lab has closed last Friday.
What goes wrong: the trap adds “has”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: Present perfect
8. Earlier of two past events Use the past perfect when you need to mark an event as earlier than another past event.
Correct By the time I arrived, the lecture had begun.
Common trap · incorrect By the time I arrived, the lecture has begun.
What goes wrong: the trap uses “has” where the correct sentence has “had”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: Past perfect simple
9. Used to for past habits Use used to plus a base verb for a habit that existed in the past.
Correct I used to take the morning shuttle.
Common trap · incorrect I used to took the morning shuttle.
What goes wrong: the trap uses “took” where the correct sentence has “take”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: Past habits: used to, would and past simple
10. Future time clause Use a present form after when to refer to a future event in a time clause.
Correct I will email you when the results arrive.
Common trap · incorrect I will email you when the results will arrive.
What goes wrong: the trap adds “will”, so it no longer follows the rule.
Matters for: Build a Sentence · Write an Email · Academic Discussion
Source: Word choice: when or if
Previous ← Questions and everyday word order Next Clauses and connections → Other grammar topics
Frequently Asked Questions Which TOEFL tasks test time and aspect? + No task names grammar topics, but these rules matter most in Build a Sentence, Write an Email, Academic Discussion. Build a Sentence rewards correct word order and forms directly; in emails, discussion posts and spoken answers, errors here make your meaning harder to follow.
Are these official TOEFL grammar rules? + No. ETS does not publish a grammar syllabus. These are original Test Ninjas teaching cards based on standard English usage, with links to the reference pages each rule was checked against.
How should I practice these rules? + Read the rule, then cover the correct sentence and try to fix the trap yourself. Next, write one new sentence of your own that follows the rule, ideally about a campus or class situation.