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Verb Tense System

A. Simple Tenses
Simple tenses are generally used to refer to a whole event or state-in the present,
future, or past-rather than a specific moment or event that is ongoing.

Tense Explanation Example


Simple present
now
True now and generally She writes for a living.

The whole event She writes three pages


occurring at regular every day.
repeated intervals
including now
Simple past

The whole event He wrote a story last year.


completed in a
specifically stated or
understood past time.

Simple future Prediction or promise She will write to you next


that a completed event week.
will happen at a stated
or understood future
time

*In clauses that refer to the future and begin with when, before, after, until, or as soon
as, use the present-not the simple future tense-in the dependent clause.
When she arrives, we will begin the meeting.

B. Progressive Tenses
The action is in progress at a specified time in the present, past, or future. Always use
the -ing form of the main verb with progressive tenses, together with an auxiliary or
auxiliaries (such as was or will be).
Tense Explanation Example

Present progressive Action in progress right He is writing a letter of


now-possibly temporarily complaint.

Past progressive Action in progress at a They were writing e-mail


specific time or event in messages when I arrived.
the past or for a duration
of time in the past

Future progressive Action predicted to be in We will be writing our


progress at a specific time research report next
or event in the future Tuesday.

*Do not use progressive forms with verbs expressing mental activities (such as
believe, know, understand, like, hate, taste, smell, need, and prefer), or states (such as
own, include, and seem). Use the simple forms instead.

C. Perfect Tense
Perfect tense indicate that an action has been completed (or perfected) before a known
or specified time or event. Form perfect tenses with the appropriate form of the have
auxiliary, followed by the past participle form of the main verb.

Tense Explanation Example


Present perfect Action was completed She has written several
some time before now, but short stories.
the time in the past is not
known or is not important.
What is important is the
connection to now.
now
Past perfect Action was completed He had written only one
before a specified time or essay when he enrolled in
event in the past. college.

Future perfect Action is predicted to be He will have written the


completed by a stated time essay by tomorrow
or event in the future. morning.

D. Perfect Progressive Tenses


Perfect progressive tenses indicate that an action is in progress before a known or
specified time or event. Time expressions with since and for are frequently found with
these tenses. Form the perfect progressive tenses with the appropriate form of the
have auxiliary, following by been, and the -ing form of the main verb.

Tense Explanation Example


Present perfect progressive Action continues from past She has been writing her
until present; length of essay for five hours.
duration of action from
past to present is usually
indicated.
now

Past perfect progressive Action lasts a stated length He had been writing for
of time and ends at a two hours when his
specific time or event in computer crashed.
the past.

Future perfect progressive Length of action and the By July 4, they will have
future time making the end been writing the report for
of the action are both five weeks.
stated.
E. Time Clusters and Tense Switches
When you are writing, it is important not to switch time and tenses unless there is
good reason for doing so. Usually, the verb tenses a writer uses in a passage will fit
into one of two time clusters: past or present (the future tenses are rarely used
throughout a passage of writing, but appear along with present cluster verbs when the
context demands). Any time switches should be clear to readers.

1. Learn to differentiate present cluster from past cluster verb tenses and forms. The
accompanying chart summarizes the four tenses-time relationships and divides them
into cluster of verb forms that can occur in a piece of writing with no switch in time
reference.

The Two Main Time Clusters


Past cluster Present/Future cluster
Simple Wrote writes/write; will write
Progressive was/were writing am/is/are writing; will be
writing
Prefect had written has/have written; will have
written
Prefect progressive had been writing has/have been writing; will
have been writing

2. Sometimes the tense shift itself is sufficient to help a reader understand that the
time reference has changed, especially when a generalization interrupts a past
narrative.
past event: past tense generalization: present tense
The roller-coaster ride began. Goosebumps are often a signal of fear,
past event: past tense
and I realized I was covered in them.

3. Usually, it is necessary for the writer to use a time signal to alert reader to a time
switch.
present tense past tense past time signal
She is happy because she won a major chess tournament last month.

Note the following time signals.


Past Present Future

once (in the past) now soon


in (+ past year or month) at present next week/month/year
last year/month/week recently in (+future year or month)
…ago for… (+ length of time
then until now)
yesterday since…(until now)

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