動詞時態是高考的重點也是必考語法。但許多考生在做題時仍然是憑感覺做題，做了後沒感覺，對自己所選答案沒任何的把握，進而也對動詞時態的學習失去了信心。其實考生做動詞時態試題時只要從以下三要素考慮，一定能取得實效的。
動詞時態解題之第一要素------時間狀語
考生在做動詞時態試題時，先看題幹中有沒有時間狀語的暗示。不同的時間狀語代表說話或動作發生的時間點或時間段，分別使用不同的時態。考生應該記住一些常用的時間狀語分別與什麼時態使用。這是解題之關鍵。此類考點是高考時態試題測試的重點。考生應該重點掌握。
常與一般現在時使用的時間狀語有：every day, every Saturday, often, always, once a week every few years, etc;
常與一般過去時使用的時間狀語有：the other day, yesterday, last year，in 1946, once, a few days ago, two years ago, etc.
常與一般將來時使用的時間狀語有：tomorrow, next week/Friday, in three hours, etc;
常與現在進行時使用的時間狀語有：now, at present, right now, etc;
常與過去進行時使用的時間狀語有：at this time yesterday/last week, etc;
常與將來進行時使用的時間狀語有：at this time tomorrow/next Friday, etc;
常與現在完成時使用的時間狀語有：since 1998, ever since, so far, up till now, recently/lately, In the past few years，in the last decade, during the past five years,
常與過去完成時使用的時間狀語有：by+過去時間狀語用過去完成時，before；
常與將來完成時使用的時間狀語有：by+將來時間狀語用將來完成時
常與現在完成進行時使用的時間狀語有：all day, all afternoon, all week, these days, all the time etc.
高考題示例（黑體部分是時間狀語暗示部分）
1. This coastal area was nameda national wildlife reserve last year.
2. I'm tired out. I have been shoppingall afternoonand I don't seem to have finished anything.
3. Every few years, the coal workers have their lungs X-rayed to ensure their health.
4. Every yeara flood of farmers arrive in Shenzhen for the money-making jobs they have been promised before leaving their hometowns.
5. Up to now,the program has saved thousands of children who would otherwise have died.
6. His sister left home in 1998, and has not been heard ofsince.
7. Over the past decades, sea icehas been decreasing in the Arctic as a result of global warming.
8.I know a little bit aboutas my wife and I wentthere several years ago.
9. I have to see the doctor because I have been coughinga lot lately.
10. Joseph has been goingto evening classes since last month, but he still can’t say 「What’s your name?」 in Russian.
動詞時態解題之第二要素------語境暗示
語境暗示主要是指上下文語境或前後語境提示。如What’s the noise或look, listen等在題幹中出現時要用現在進行時；並列句、複合句裡前後語境裡時態的暗示等。考生在解答時態試題時，若題幹中既找不到時間狀語，又不是測試的固定句型時，考生得從上下文語境考慮了，即題幹前後時態或句子意思的暗示。這樣就能迅速而準確的找到關鍵信息點，問題就迎刃而解了。此類考點也是高考時態試題測試的重點。考生應該重點掌握。
高考題示例（黑體部分是語境暗示部分）
1. I was just going tocut my rose bushes but someone had doneit. Was it you?
2. I walkedslowly through the market, where people were selling all kinds of fruits and vegetables. I studied the prices carefully and bought what I needed.
3. The church tower whichis being restoredwill be open to tourists soon. The work is almost finished.
3. ——Were you surprisedby the ending of the film?
——No, I had readthe book, so I already knew the story?
4. We have been workingon this project for four hours. Let’s have a rest.
5．——When shall we restart our business?
——Not until wehave finished our plan．
6．You』ve failed to do what youwere expectedto and I’m afraid the teacher will blameyou．
7. Linda make sure the table are setbefore the guests arrive.
8.The telephone was ringing, but by the time I gotindoors, it stopped.
9.Teenagers are damagingtheir health because they play computer games too much.
10.——What’s that noise?
——Oh, I forgot to tell you. The new machine is being tested.
動詞時態解題之第三要素---- 固定句型
此類考點在高考時態試題中測試得不多，但是考生必須記住以下句型中常用的時態。遇到這方面的時態考題時就能迅速定位，輕而易舉地找到正確答案。
No.1 在時間狀語從句和條件狀語從句中，如果主句用將來時，從句要用一般現在時態代替將來時態；
No.2 在賓語從句中，主句用過去時態，從句要使用相應的過去時態；
No.3 表按時刻表固定要發生的動作，通常用一般現在時；如The plane takes off at 4:30.
No.4 I wasdoing sth. when sth. happened…
I was about to do sth. when sth. happened…
I was on the point of doing sth. when sth. happened
I had just done sth. when sth. happened (when：這時, 強調一個動作的突然發生)
如：1). I was walking along the river, when I heard a drowning boy cry for help.
2). I was about to leave when it began to rain.
3). I had just finished my test paper when the bell rang, announcing the exam was over.
No.5 祈使句+ or/otherwise + sb will(not) do sth. 或祈使句+ and + sb will(not) do sth.
如：Start right away or you』ll miss the first train.
No.6It was (not ) + 時間段+before +一般過去時過了一段時間就……..
It will (not )be+ 時間段+before +一般現在時要過一段時間才會…
It is/ has been +時間段+ since sb.did sth.
It was +點時間+ when sth. happened…..
如：1). It was not long before he sensed the danger of the position.不久他就意識到他處境危險 （動作已發生）
2). It will be half a year before you graduate from the school. 還有半年你才從這個學校畢業（動作未發生）
3). It is 3 years since he worked here.=he left here.（since從句中的謂語動詞若是延續性動詞，要從這個動作結束的時候算起）
4). It was 3 o』clock when they received the telephone.
No.7 表示過去原打算幹，卻未曾實現的願望、打算或意圖
l had hoped to do=hoped to have done.。類似的詞還有：expect, think, intend, design, plan, mean, suppose等
l would like/prefer/ love to have done
l was/ were to have done
I was/were supposed to have done
如：1).--- Did you go to see the film 「Titanic」 last night?
---I』d like to have, but I had an unexpected guest.
2). The plane was to have take off at 7 this morning, but was held up by the heavy fog.
No.8 If +were/ did (動詞過去式)，主語+情態動詞（would, could, might, should）+do（用來表示對現在情況的假設）
如：I don’t have a cellphone. If I had one , it would be convenient for me to contract others.
l If +had done (過去完成式)，主語+情態動詞（would, could, might, should）+have done（用來表示對過去情況的假設）
如：If I had gone to the concert, I would have seen the famous singer.
l If +were/ did (動詞過去式)/were to do/should do ，主語+情態動詞（would, could, might, should）+ do（用來表示對將來情況的假設）
如：If I were not to take/ should take/ took the exam tomorrow, I would go shopping with you.
No.9 It is the first time that sb. has done sth./It was the first time sb. had done sth.
No.10 hardly had sb. done sth.when. sth.happened/No soonerhad sb. done sth. than sth. happened
No.11. sb. is always doing sth.表說話者說話時的一種情感色彩，讚揚、責備或批評
No.12 表位移方向的動詞的現在進行時表將來
如： I』m leavingfor Shanghai tomorrow.
No.13 by+將來時間狀語或表將來時態的句子，要用將來完成時態；by+過去時間狀語或表過去時態的句子，要用過去完成時態.
解題步驟：步驟之一：結合選項確定此題是考查動詞的時態語態。步驟之二：結合句子的意思來確定主語與謂語動詞是主動還是被動的關係，排除錯誤選項。步驟之三：從解答動詞的時態語態的三要素------時間狀語、固定句型和語境暗示來確定正確答案。