要迅速、准确地确定句子的时态有时是比较困难的。无论是作动词时态填空题还是单项选择题，掌握好动词时态的几种基本用法对于学好英语至关重要。如能对所学的几种时态运用自如，则可以迅速地提高英语写作能力，中学生英语写作中的错误大多都与时态有关。学好动词的时态是一个漫长的过程，要靠平时逐渐积累语法知识，细心体会，但掌握规律，总结经验也是十分重要的。
要确定一个动词在具体的句子中到底用什么样的时态，首先是理解各种时态的概念、其语法形式和基本用法，其次是要记住与各种时态经常配合使用的时间状语及相关的信息词，如at this time yesterday经常与过去进行时态连用；often，always经常与一般现在时态或一般过去时态连用；yet常与现在完成时态连用；Look！或Listen！暗示其后的句子应该用现在进行时态等等。也就是说，在没有上下文的情况下常要靠时间状语或相关的信息词来确定句子的时态，所以确定句子时态的第一个要诀是：
一、简单句，最基本，时间状语是线索，信息词汇要留心。
例1．Mr King taught（teach）us English last term ．
例2．His uncle in three days．
A．returns B．has returned C．returned D．will return
例3Listen！Some of the girls about Harry Potter．Let's join them ！
A．are talking B．talk C．will talk D．talked
一个并列句，如果两个分句的谓语动词在同一时间发生（过去、现在或将来），前后两分句的时态应保持一致；如果两个分句的谓语动词表示不同时间的动作或状态，则前后两个分句的时态就不一样。所以确定并列句谓语动词的时态关键是要分析谓语动词所表示的动作或状态发生或存在的时间关系，故确定句子时态的第二个诀窍是：
二、并列句，前后看，时间关系是关键。
例4．I often my homework after supper．But yesterday evening，I TV．
A．do，watch B．did，watched C．did，watch D．do，watched
例5Tom to bed early but his brother doesn't．
A．goes B．went C．has gone
例6He turned off the light then ．
A．leaves B．left C．will have
复合句是由一个主句和一个或一个以上的从句构成的，故主、从句之间有一种时态呼应关系。如果主句是一般现在时态，则宾语从句根据需要选择相应时态；如果主句是一般过去时态，则宾语从句用一般用过去时态，即一般过去时态，过去进行时态，过去将来时态或过去完成时态。有时语法规则并不能概括所有的语言现象，所以一些习惯用法必须遵循。如果宾语从句表示的是不受时间限制的客观真理，尽管主句是一般过去时态，宾语从句也得用一般现在时态；when，as soon as， until等引导的时间状语从句或if引导的条件状语从句，通常用一般现在时态表示将来。其基本格式是：一般将来时态的陈述句或祈使句＋时间或条件状语从句。还需要注意积累一些其它的时态搭配关系。故确定句子时态的第三条诀窍是：
三、复合句，句套句，动词时态要呼应，习惯用法须记清。
例7She didn't tell us ．
A．how old the patient was B．how old was the patient
C．how old the patient is D．how old is the patient
例8．—When will you tell him the good news？
—I will tell him about it as soon as he back．
A．comes B．came C．will come D．is coming
例9．Do you know if back next week？If he back，please let me know．
A．he comes，will come B．will he come，come
C．he will come，comes D．will he come，will come
例10．Our physics teacher told us light faster than sound．
A．travelled B．has travelled C．travels D．will travel
链接中考
1．I'm sorry you've missed the train．It 10 minutes ago．
A．left B．has left C．had left D．has been left
2．—Mum，may I go out and play basketball？
— you your homework yet？
A．Do，finish B．Are，finishing
C．Did，finish D．Have，finished
3．—Excuse me，no photos here！
—Sorry，I the sign．
A．don't see B．didn't see C．cann't see D．won't see
4．No hurry！We can get to the bus station in time and we the early bus．
A．don't miss B．can miss C．will miss D．won't miss
5．Our teacher，Miss Chen English on the radio the day before yesterday．
A．teaches B．taught C．will teach D．has taught
6．Harry Potter is a very nice film ．I it twice．
A．will see B．can see C．saw D．see
7．They all the their money，so they have to walk home．
A．spend B．had spent
C．have spent D．will spend
8．Jim has made many friends since he to China．
A．came B．comes C．has come D．will come
9．—Lucy， you your ticket？
—Not yet．
A．can，find B．have，found C．has，found D．do find
10．What we if our car breaks down broken on the way？
A．do，do B．did，do C．are doing D．shall，do
11．We'll go for a walk if it tomorrow．
A．will not rain B．rains C．doesn't rain
12．Listen！Mary in the next room．
A．sings B．is singing C．sang
13．—Where does he come from ？
—Pardon？
—I asked where ．
A．did he come from B．he came from
C．he comes from D．does he come from
14．We are glad that the Shenzhen Underground very soon．
A．will complete B．will be completed
C．has completed D．has been completed
15．China the WTO last year．
A．joined B．has joined C．had joined D．join
Answers:
1---5 ADBDB 6--10 BCABD 11--15 CBBBA
