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When learning English, you might sometimes pause and wonder, “Wait, is this really how I should use it?”
Even now, I sometimes find myself unsure whether to use ‘a’ or ‘the’, or ‘was’ or ‘is’ in a given context.”
Yet these tiny moments of uncertainty are actually fantastic learning opportunities.
By questioning, investigating, and experimenting, you gradually make grammar truly your own.
In this series, Grammar in Everyday Life, we focus on these “real-life questions” in English and explain them clearly, using actual usage examples.
Theme
This article addresses a common source of confusion for English learners: choosing between “was” and “is.”
Introduction
In a previous article, Cambridge CPE Speaking: The One Strategy That Helped Me Pass – Tips for CPE, CAE, FCE & Study Abroad Preparation, I shared the following excerpt:
The one piece of advice my CPE teacher gave me…
Some readers might have wondered:
- “If the teacher is still alive, shouldn’t it be ‘is’ rather than ‘was’?”
- “It says ‘He wasn’t a native speaker’, but his place of birth never changes—so shouldn’t it be ‘isn’t’?”
In this mini column, we’ll answer these questions by exploring when to use past and present tense.
Example Sentences
The teacher who led it made a lasting impression on me.
He wasn’t a native speaker — he was from continental Europe — but he had passed the CPE with an almost perfect Grade A.
Key Points
The past tense appears in “He wasn’t a native speaker” and “He was from continental Europe.”
Even though the teacher’s nativeness and place of birth haven’t changed, past tense is used. Why?
Why “was” is used
Reason: It reflects a retrospective perspective.
These sentences recall events from the past—specifically, the time when I was preparing for the CPE.
The narrative is framed from a past perspective.
In other words, because the speaker’s focus is on that past moment, it’s natural to use the past tense, even if the facts themselves remain true today.
When to use “is / isn’t”
We use the present tense when we want to emphasise current facts or situations:
The teacher who led my CPE course is from continental Europe.
He continues to teach there.
Here, the focus is on the present, not on past recollections.
Summary: Choosing tenses by perspective
| Focus of the narrative | Correct tense | Example |
| Past recollection | was / wasn’t | He wasn’t a native speaker. He was from continental Europe. |
| Present fact | is / isn’t | He is from continental Europe. He continues to teach there. |
Key points:
🔹Even if the teacher’s birthplace or nativeness hasn’t changed, if your perspective is on a past event, use the past tense.
🔹English tenses make more sense when you think about the speaker’s temporal viewpoint rather than just grammatical rules.
Editor’s Note
English tenses are easier to understand when you consider which moment the speaker is “looking at.”
🔹Use “was” when recalling past events.
🔹Use “is” when stating present facts.
These small shifts in perspective are the first step to feeling English naturally.
Try applying this perspective when writing or speaking in English.
