English, like most languages, makes use of tenses. English actually has six tenses but for general conversational English, they are not normally all used. Conversational English by its very nature tends to be less formal and restrictive than the written language.

In this English tip, Gabby speaks about the simple past tense of the verb “to be” which is “was.” For example, you might say, “I was an Exchange student in the year 2000.” The past perfect tense, on the other hand, might read, “I had been studying English when my little sister was born and I had to return home to help my parents.”

In normal conversation, most people use the simple tenses. If you want to blend in and sound more like a native speaker, it’s important not to speak in a stiff, awkward manner. The best way to do this is to practice, practice, and practice some more. Go Natural English exists to help you become more natural and fluent in your English language skills.