Mastering OET Grammar: Tenses and Passive Voice with Real Letter Examples

Mastering OET Grammar: Tenses and Passive Voice with Real Letter Examples

If you’ve been preparing for the OET Writing sub-test, you’ve probably realized that grammar is not about using complicated sentences—it’s about using the right tense and appropriate passive voice in a professional healthcare context.

Healthcare professionals write referral, transfer, discharge, and update letters every day. Understanding when to use different tenses and passive structures will make your writing accurate, clear, and professional.

Let’s explore the most common grammar patterns in OET letters with authentic-style examples.

Why Grammar Matters in OET Writing

OET examiners assess your grammar based on:

• Accuracy
• Appropriateness
• Clarity
• Control of sentence structures

Interestingly, most OET letters rely on only a few grammar patterns. Mastering these gives you a significant advantage.

1. Present Simple

When to use it

Use the present simple for:

• Current medical conditions
• Regular medications
• General facts
• Current lifestyle

Examples

Mr Patel has hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

She takes Metformin 500 mg twice daily.

He lives alone and requires assistance with shopping.

The patient reports persistent lower back pain.

Common OET phrases

• has a history of…
• suffers from…
• currently takes…
• lives independently
• remains stable

2. Present Continuous

When to use it

Use the present continuous for temporary or ongoing situations.

Examples

The patient is recovering well following surgery.

She is receiving physiotherapy twice weekly.

He is currently experiencing increased anxiety.

3. Present Perfect

When to use it

Use the present perfect when the action started in the past but is still relevant now.

Examples

Mrs Brown has experienced worsening breathlessness over the past month.

He has attended three physiotherapy sessions.

The patient has developed a productive cough.

Time expressions

• recently
• over the past week
• since admission
• so far
• to date

4. Past Simple

This is the most frequently used tense in OET referral letters.

When to use it

Use it for completed events.

Examples

The patient presented to the emergency department with chest pain.

She underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

He was admitted on 12 June.

Mrs Green reported dizziness during the consultation.

5. Past Continuous

When to use it

Describe an action that was in progress when another event happened.

Examples

The patient was walking when she suddenly collapsed.

He was gardening when the injury occurred.

6. Past Perfect

When to use it

Use the past perfect for an event that happened before another past event.

Examples

The patient had completed the antibiotic course before symptoms recurred.

She had missed several insulin doses before admission.

7. Future Forms

OET letters often include treatment plans and recommendations.

Examples

The patient will require ongoing physiotherapy.

She will be reviewed in four weeks.

We plan to commence anticoagulation therapy.

Please continue monitoring her blood pressure.

Understanding Passive Voice

Passive voice is extremely common in healthcare writing because the focus is on the patient or treatment, not the person performing the action.

Compare these:

Active

The surgeon performed the operation.

Passive

The operation was performed successfully.

The passive version sounds more professional and objective.

Common Passive Structures in OET

Present Passive

Structure

am/is/are + past participle

Examples

The patient is admitted for observation.

She is being treated with antibiotics.

Regular monitoring is recommended.

Past Passive

Structure

was/were + past participle

Examples

The patient was admitted following a fall.

She was discharged home yesterday.

Blood tests were performed.

Present Perfect Passive

Structure

has/have been + past participle

Examples

The wound has been cleaned and dressed.

Medication has been adjusted.

Physiotherapy has been arranged.

Future Passive

Structure

will be + past participle

Examples

The patient will be reviewed in six weeks.

Blood pressure will be monitored regularly.

Further investigations will be arranged if necessary.

Real OET Letter Examples

Example 1 – Referral Letter

Mr Thomas presented to our clinic two weeks ago with persistent abdominal pain. He underwent blood investigations, which revealed mild anaemia. He has been referred to your clinic for further assessment.

Notice the tenses:

• presented → Past Simple
• underwent → Past Simple
• revealed → Past Simple
• has been referred → Present Perfect Passive

Example 2 – Discharge Letter

Mrs Wilson was admitted following a fractured hip. She underwent surgery the following day and has made good progress. She is being discharged today. Home physiotherapy has been arranged.

Notice:

• was admitted → Past Passive
• underwent → Past Simple
• has made → Present Perfect
• is being discharged → Present Continuous Passive
• has been arranged → Present Perfect Passive

Example 3 – Transfer Letter

The patient has experienced worsening dyspnoea over the past week. Chest X-ray findings were consistent with pneumonia, and intravenous antibiotics were commenced. She is now stable but requires ongoing respiratory management.

Grammar used:

• Present Perfect
• Past Passive
• Present Simple

Most Useful Passive Verbs in OET

You will frequently encounter these verbs in healthcare letters:

Active Verb	Passive Example
admit	was admitted
discharge	was discharged
prescribe	was prescribed
arrange	has been arranged
perform	was performed
diagnose	was diagnosed
monitor	will be monitored
recommend	is recommended
refer	has been referred
treat	is being treated

Common Grammar Mistakes

❌ Incorrect

The patient has admitted yesterday.

✅ Correct

The patient was admitted yesterday.

❌ Incorrect

She is suffer from asthma.

✅ Correct

She suffers from asthma.

❌ Incorrect

Blood tests has been arranged.

✅ Correct

Blood tests have been arranged.

❌ Incorrect

The patient discharged home.

✅ Correct

The patient was discharged home.

Quick Revision Chart

Purpose	Tense/Structure	Example
Current condition	Present Simple	He has asthma.
Ongoing treatment	Present Continuous	She is receiving chemotherapy.
Recent event with current relevance	Present Perfect	He has improved significantly.
Completed event	Past Simple	She underwent surgery.
Earlier past event	Past Perfect	He had completed treatment.
Future plan	Future	She will require follow-up.
Professional medical action	Passive Voice	The patient was admitted.

Final Tips for OET Success

Rather than trying to use every tense, focus on using the appropriate one for the situation. Most high-scoring OET letters rely on a predictable combination:

• Present Simple for current status
• Past Simple for clinical history
• Present Perfect for developments relevant to the present
• Passive Voice for investigations, treatments, admissions, referrals, and discharge plans

When these structures are used accurately and consistently, your writing becomes clear, concise, and professional—exactly what OET examiners are looking for.