What is Tense?
tense (noun): a form of a verb used to indicate the time, and sometimes the continuation or completeness,
of an action in relation to the time of speaking. (From Latin tempus = time).
Tense is a method that we use in English to refer to time\u2014past, present and future. Many
languages use tenses to talk about time. Other languages have no tenses, but of course
they can still talk about time, using different methods.
languages use tenses to talk about time. Other languages have no tenses, but of course
they can still talk about time, using different methods.
So, we talk about time in English with tenses.But, and this is a very bigbut:
\u2022
we can also talk about time without using tenses (for example, going to is a
special construction to talk about the future, it is not a tense)
\u2022
one tense does not always talk about one time (see Tense & Time for more about
this)
Here are some of the terms used in discussing verbs and tenses.
Mood
indicative mood expresses a simple statement of fact, which can be positive (affirmative)
or negative
\u2022
Ilike coffee.
\u2022
Ido notlike coffee.
interrogative mood expresses a question
\u2022
Whydo youlike coffee?
imperative mood expresses a command
\u2022
Sit down!
subjunctive mood expresses what is imagined or wished or possible
\u2022
The President ordered that heattend the meeting.
Voice
Voice shows the relationship of the subject to the action. In the active voice, the subjectdoes the action (cats eat mice). In the passive voice, the subject receives the action (miceare eaten by cats). Among other things, we can use voice to help us change the focus ofattention.
Aspect
Aspect expresses a feature of the action related to time, such as completion or duration.Present simple and past simple tenses have no aspect, but if we wish we can stress withother tenses that:
\u2022
the action or state referred to by the verb is completed (and often still relevant),
for example:
I have emailed the report to Jane. (so now she has the report)
(This is called perfective aspect, using perfect tenses.)
\u2022
the action or state referred to by the verb is in progress or continuing (that is,
uncompleted), for example:
We are eating.
(This is called progressive aspect, using progressive [continuous] tenses.)
Basic Tenses
For past and present, there are 2 simple tenses + 6 complex tenses (using auxiliary verbs).
To these, we can add 4 "modal tenses" for the future (using modal auxiliary verbs
will/shall). This makes a total of 12 tenses in the active voice. Another 12 tenses are
available in the passive voice. So now we have 24 tenses.
To these, we can add 4 "modal tenses" for the future (using modal auxiliary verbs
will/shall). This makes a total of 12 tenses in the active voice. Another 12 tenses are
available in the passive voice. So now we have 24 tenses.
24 Tenses
past
present
future*
ACTIVE
simple tenses
past
present
future
complex tenses
formed with
auxiliary verbs
formed with
auxiliary verbs
past perfect
present perfect
future perfect
past continuouspresent
continuous
future continuous
past perfect
continuous
present perfect
continuous
future perfect
continuous
PASSIVE
past
present
future
past perfect
present perfect
future perfect
past continuouspresent
continuous
future continuous
past perfect
continuous
present perfect
continuous
future perfect
continuous
Some grammar books use the word
progressive instead of continuous. They are
exactly the same.
Theuse of tenses in English may be quite complicated, but thestructure of English
tenses is actually very simple. The basic structure for a positive sentence is:
subject + auxiliary verb + main verb
An auxiliary verb is used in all tenses. (In the simple present and simple past tenses, the
auxiliary verb is usually suppressed for the affirmative, but it does exist for
intensification.) The following table shows the 12 tenses for the verb to work in the
active voice.
auxiliary verb is usually suppressed for the affirmative, but it does exist for
intensification.) The following table shows the 12 tenses for the verb to work in the
active voice.
structure
auxiliary main verb
past
present
future*
simple
normal
I worked
I work
I will work
intensive do
base
I did work
I do work
perfect
have
past
participle
I had
worked
I have
worked
I will have
worked
continuous
be
present
participle
-ing
participle
-ing
I was
working
I am
working
I will be
working
continuous
perfect
have
been
present
participle
-ing
participle
-ing
I had been
working
I have been
working
I will have
been working
