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Verb Tenses & Subject-Verb Agreement
10 min
B1
Free
The TOEIC tense traps
TOEIC Parts 5-6 test whether you can pick the correct tense in a business sentence. French speakers struggle here because French uses the passé composé where English needs the present perfect, and French allows present tense where English needs a future or continuous form.
"The report has been reviewed by the manager."
Le rapport a été examiné par le directeur.
Present perfect passive — the action is complete but the time isn't specified. TOEIC loves this.
Le rapport a été examiné par le directeur.
Present perfect passive — the action is complete but the time isn't specified. TOEIC loves this.
"Sales have increased since January."
Les ventes ont augmenté depuis janvier.
"Since" + present perfect. Never "Sales increased since January" — that's the French pattern leaking through.
Les ventes ont augmenté depuis janvier.
"Since" + present perfect. Never "Sales increased since January" — that's the French pattern leaking through.
"By the time the meeting starts, we will have finished the proposal."
D'ici le début de la réunion, nous aurons terminé la proposition.
Future perfect — completed before a future point. "By the time" is a TOEIC signal phrase.
D'ici le début de la réunion, nous aurons terminé la proposition.
Future perfect — completed before a future point. "By the time" is a TOEIC signal phrase.
Subject-verb agreement traps
TOEIC hides the subject by inserting a long phrase between it and the verb. Don't fall for it.
"The list of candidates has been narrowed down."
Not "have" — the subject is "list" (singular), not "candidates."
Not "have" — the subject is "list" (singular), not "candidates."
Common mistake
French speakers often say "I work here since 2019" — say "I have worked here since 2019" instead. In French, "depuis" uses present tense. In English, "since" requires present perfect.