要比较过去、现在和将来，就给每个时期一个简短的段落，用时间短语标记它，并在段落内保持动词时态（tense）稳定。当题目问 “how has it changed”、“what do you want to do next” 或 “what was it like before” 时，就需要这样做。
这节课建立在连接原因与结果之上，因为随时间的变化通常带有原因。之后的自查语速一课，让你在录音中听到自己的时间线。
该用哪些形式和标记？
你不需要复杂的语法。一小组形式和标记就够了。
| 时间 | 常用形式 | 标记 |
|---|---|---|
| 过去 | I used to…, I did…, I was… | when I was younger, last year, at that time |
| 现在 | I do…, I am doing…, I have… | now, these days, at the moment |
| 将来 | I am going to…, I will…, I hope to… | next year, in the future, one day |
每一段都用它的标记开头。标记告诉听者他们在时间线上的哪个位置。
怎样让顺序清楚？
先讲过去，再讲现在，再讲将来。固定的顺序像一条有路牌的路，听者总是知道你往哪个方向走。
把对比放在中间。but 或 however 标示段落之间的转变。
完整例题
题目： How has the way you use technology changed, and what do you expect in future?
第 1 步，过去的段落： “When I was younger, I used to play games on my father’s old tablet. I only used it at weekends.”
第 2 步，对比到现在： “Now, however, I use my own phone every day, mainly for homework and messages.”
第 3 步，将来的段落： “Next year I am going to start a coding club, because I want to make simple apps instead of only using them.”
完整回答：
“When I was younger, I used to play games on my father’s old tablet. I only used it at weekends. Now, however, I use my own phone every day, mainly for homework and messages. Next year I am going to start a coding club, because I want to make simple apps instead of only using them.”
这个回答有三段和三个标记。因此，即使某个动词形式稍有偏差，时间线依然一目了然。
要留意的错误
常见的错误是时态漂移（tense drift）：说话者从过去开始，不知不觉滑进现在。
错误的回答： “When I was younger I play games on my father’s tablet and then I am using it only at weekends.”
标记说的是过去，动词却是现在。听者无法判断现在什么是真的。改正的方法是对照每段开头的标记检查每个动词：“When I was younger I played games on my father’s tablet, and I used it only at weekends.”
如果你经常滑掉，就在换段的那一刻放慢。大多数漂移都从那里开始。
自我检测
先大声说出答案，再打开参考答案。
1. 改正时态：“Last summer I go to Penang and I am eating char kuey teow every day.”
查看答案
“Last summer I went to Penang and I ate char kuey teow every day.” 标记 “last summer” 定下了过去，所以两个动词都必须是过去式。
2. 给每个句子加上合适的标记：(a) “I walk to school.” (b) “I took the bus.” (c) “I am going to cycle.”
查看答案
例如：(a) These days I walk to school. (b) When I was in primary school I took the bus. (c) Next term I am going to cycle. 其他自然的标记也可以。
3. 写一段关于爱好的三句比较：一句过去，一句现在，一句将来。
查看答案
一个示范：“I used to draw only with pencils. Now I draw on a tablet. Next year I hope to sell a few designs to friends, because I want to improve.” 只要每句有自己的标记且时态稳定，你的答案就是对的。
接下来学什么
接着学习如何在用录音自查语速时听出自己的时间线，然后做口语组织练习。把时态失误记在错题记录与重测队列里。
有些学生写作时时态无误，一到口语压力下就乱了。这正是我们的老师在一对一线上 English as a Second Language 补习中会留意的模式。