3 Examples of Why the Struggle is Real

Ask students which points of grammar trouble them most. Chances are they'll mention tenses. English tenses are no joke - or are they??

Past, Present and Future walked into a bar. It was tense...

You've probably heard that one before. Maybe it made you smile. What's funny yet sad about it is this: that joke perfectly illustrates why students struggle with tenses.?

Neither this nor that - 3 examples

1. Present?Simple can refer to moments in the past, in the present and in the future. Does its name reflect its usage?
2. If?will?refers to the future, then what are students to make of the word?would? Is there such a thing as?past future, and how'd you put it on a timeline?
3. On a timeline, the?Present?Perfect shows up?before?now - in the past! How does calling it?present?make any sense to students??

Funny or not?

On a timeline, the past, the present and the future seem real enough. Grammar jargon messes up that neat picture and confuses students. That's not funny at all.

If you want funny, read Douglas Adams:?Future Perfect has been abandoned since it was discovered not to be.?That is funny.

Tenses are no joke. Our students' struggle is real.?

Their struggle is tense.

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