Unit 4

The English Tense System
[4.1] How to study this unit?
[4.2] The English tense system
[4.3] Present tenses
[4.4] Past tenses
[4.5] Future forms
[4.6] Bibliographical references
4
UNIT
English tenses
Scheme
UNIT 4 – Scheme
Present tenses Past tenses Future tenses
Present simple Past simple Future perfect

tense tense tense
Present Past progressive Future perfect

progressive tense tense progressive tense
Present perfect Past perfect Future simple

tense tense tense
Present perfect Past perfect Future

progressive tense progressive tense progressive tense
Present Simple Tense and

Present Progressive Tense
to express future ideas
English Grammar
© Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

English Grammar
Pay attention to…
4.1. How to study this unit?
In order to study this unit you should read:
Hewings, M. (2005). Advanced Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University

Press. (p. 12, p.14, p.16, p.18, p. 26). Available at the virtual campus under the art. 32.4
of the Spanish Intellectual Property Law.
In this unit we will study different aspects of the English tense system.
» Firstly, we will describe the present tenses and their use.

» Secondly, we will analyse the past tenses and their use.
» And finally, we will discuss the forms to express future time and the
meaning and use of these forms.
4.2. The English tense system
To be able to choose the correct verb form and to interpret the choice of the speaker
properly, we should take into account the meaning and use of the two main features of
the English tense system, namely, time (expressed through verbal tenses) and aspect.
English has two grammatical aspects: progressive and perfect.
Progressive Aspect
The progressive aspect is used for actions perceived as ongoing. The speaker focuses on
the duration rather than on the result of the action. We perceive the action at a point
between its beginning and end, but we witness neither the beginning, nor the end of the
action. That is why, this action is often viewed as incomplete and/or temporary.
Temporary: I am staying with some friends over the long holiday weekend.
Duration: I have been helping children who face a range of disadvantages for
years.
UNIT 4 – Pay attention to… © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

English Grammar
Incomplete: I was reading a book on the plane.

Action perceived at a point between its beginning and end: When I arrived
at the station, the train was leaving the platform.
Perfect Aspect
One of the main features of the perfect aspect is that it connects the action or event with
an action that happens later.
Present perfect tense, before now/the moment of speaking:

The road hasn’t been repaired yet.
Past perfect tense, before a point of reference in the past:
When I came back home, my mother had already tidied up my bedroom.
Future perfect tense, before a point of reference in the future:
I will have read the book by the end of the term.
Another characteristic of the perfect aspect is that it expresses the idea of an action or
event that produces a result relevant to a later moment, but the exact time of this action
or event is not mentioned.
I have painted my kitchen pink.
Active Simple Progressive

Present I write I am writing
Past I wrote I was writing
Future I will write I will be writing
Present Perfect I have written I have been writing
Past Perfect I had written I had been writing
Future Perfect I will have written I will have been writing
Passive Simple Progressive
Present It is written It is being written
Past It was written It was being written
Future It will be written
Present Perfect It has been written
Past Perfect It had been written
Future Perfect It will have been written
Table 1. English Tense System.

English Grammar
4.3. Present tenses
Present Simple Tense
» Form:
Affirmative It rains.
It does not rain. It doesn’t
Negative
rain.
Interrogative Does it rain?
We add -s or -es to the verb in the third person singular.
Spelling rules: Verbs ending in -ch, -sh, -x, and -o add -es, instead of -s to form the
third person singular. Example: confesses, passes, blushes, washes, buzzes,
catches, touches, waxes…
» Use. The present simple tense is used for habitual or repeated actions in the
present.
I usually get up at 9 o’clock.
This tense is often used with adverbs of frequency ordered below from 100% to 0%:
100% always
90% usually
80% normally, generally
70% often, frequently,
50% sometimes
20% occasionally
10% seldom, hardly ever
5% rarely, almost never
0% never

English Grammar
» Form
The present progressive tense is formed with the present tense of the auxiliary verb to
be + the present participle of the main verb.
They are playing.

Affirmative
I am reading a book.
They are not playing.
Negative They aren’t playing.
I’m not reading a book.
Are they playing?
Why are they playing?
Interrogative
Are you reading a book?
What are you reading?
» Use
The present progressive tense is used for actions that are happening at the moment of
speaking.
Please be quiet. I am watching my favourite TV show now.

Look at my cat. She is sleeping on my English book.
It is used for an action that is happening now, although not necessarily at the moment
of speaking. It is a longer action in progress.
I am doing a cooking course.

I am learning French because it will be useful for my job.

English Grammar
It is also used for future arrangements. This form is a common way of expressing one’s
immediate plans. When present progressive tense is used to express future
arrangement, we usually mention the time of the action. Otherwise, the listener might
think we refer to the present moment.
I am having lunch with my parents tomorrow.

What are you doing next summer?
Compare the following sentences:
I am having lunch with my parents.

What are you doing?
Present progressive tense is also used for a frequently repeated action when the
frequency is annoying the speaker.
Peter is always coming late to school.

My friend is always complaining about his job.
Emily and Christina are always talking in class.
The repeated action might be accidental.
I am always forgetting the name of this actor.
The repeated action might not be annoying the speaker.
Peter reads all the time.

Peter is always reading.
Remember that stative verbs are not used in the progressive tenses.
*I am agreeing with you.

English Grammar
Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary verb have (has in the third
person singular) and the past participle of the main verb.
» Form
Affirmative She has left.

Negative She hasn’t left.
Interrogative Has she left?
» Use: Present perfect tense is used for actions that happened in the past, but whose
time is not definite or not important. That is why present perfect cannot be used
with time expressions such as: yesterday, three days ago, last month, that day,
when I was in Rome, etc.
I have seen this film three times.

I have been to Africa before.
The present perfect tense is often used with time expressions such as: already,
before, ever, never, once, so far, yet.
I have written 10 pages so far.

Tim has already been appointed CEO of the biggest marketing company.
The result of the past action we express with present perfect tense is often felt in the
present.
I have put some weight.

I have lost my car keys. Have you seen them?

English Grammar
The present perfect is also used for actions that happened recently, but whose exact
time is not known or not important.
I have bought a new bag, but I don’t like it.

Has the meeting started yet? I have just arrived.
It can be used to express an action that happened in an incomplete period of time.
I have seen Susan this morning.
Said before noon, the period of time is not complete. If said at 4:00, for example, the
speaker would use past simple because the morning is over.
I saw Susan this morning.
In some cases, incomplete period of time is indicated by using lately or recently.
I have had a lot of work lately.
It can be used with for and since.
o Since + a point of reference in the past. The action started in the past and
continues in the present.
I have studied French since 2000.

I haven’t spoken to him since I met you.

English Grammar
o For is used for a period of time that started in the past and hasn’t finished yet.
I haven’t smoked for three months / two days/ for a long time/ ages.
o Some verbs like break, lose, start, stop, decide, etc. suggest short actions. When
used in Present Perfect tense, they are usually used in the simple aspect.
Who has broken the Italian vase?

Peter has found a new job.
o When used in present perfect progressive, these verbs suggest a repeated activity.
My cousin is tired. He has been cutting wood for three hours.
It is often difficult to decide between the present perfect and the past simple tense.
Angela Downing and Philip Locke offer useful criteria to differentiate between these
two tenses.
Present Perfect Past Simple

Its time-frame is the past, which is viewed as
Its time-frame is the extended now, a period
a separate time-frame from that of the
of time which extends up to speech time.
present.
The event occurs at some indefinite and
The event is located at a specific and
unspecified time within the extended now.
definite time in the past.
The Perfect is non-deictic - it doesn’t “point”
The Past tense is deictic - it points to a
to a specific time but relates to a relevant
specific time in the past.
time.
The event has “current relevance”, that is,
The event is seen as psychologically
it is viewed as psychologically connected
disconnected from the moment of speaking.
to the moment of speaking.
Table 2. Comparison between Present Perfect and Past Simple Tense. Source: Adapted from Downing and
Locke, 2006, p. 362, (bold in original).

English Grammar
Present Perfect Progressive Tense
Form
Affirmative I have been writing a letter.
Negative I haven’t been writing a letter.
Interrogative Have you been writing a letter?
Use
The present perfect progressive tense is used for actions that started in the past and still
continue or actions that have just finished. In the case of actions that continue to the
present, it is viewed as unfinished past.
I have been thinking about their proposal for a week.

I have been waiting for my friend for an hour.
The present perfect progressive is not used in the passive voice.
In some cases both present perfect simple and present perfect progressive can be used
with little or no difference.
How long have you learnt German?

How long have you been learning German?
4.4. Past tenses
Past Simple Tense
» Form.
o With most of the verbs in English past simple tense is formed by adding -ed to the
infinitive: listen- listened, open - opened.

English Grammar
o When the verb ends in -e only -d is added: live - lived, smile - smiled.
o Some verbs have irregular past tenses:
go went
see saw
buy bought
Affirmative I saw my English teacher in the supermarket yesterday.

Negative I didn’t see my English teacher in the supermarket yesterday.
Interrogative Did you see your English teacher in the supermarket yesterday?
» Use
o The past simple tense is used to express a completed action in the past. The time
in the past when the action was completed is often mentioned in the sentence.
yesterday.
I met one of the most famous tennis players three months ago.
on Sunday.
at 10 o’clock.
The past simple tense is used to express actions that follow each other. In the
excerpt from Rudyard Kipling’s At the End of the Passage, there are several
examples of this use.
He approached the figure, which naturally kept at an unvarying distance from him,
as is the use of all specters that are born of overwork. It slid through the house and
dissolved into swimming specks within the eyeball as soon as it reached the burning
light of the garden. Hummil went about his business till even. When he came in to
dinner he found himself sitting at the table. The vision rose and walked away
hastily. Except that it cast no shadow it was in all respects real. (Kipling, 1967, p. 98).
o The past simple tense can also be used to express habits in the past.
We went (used to go/would go) to the same restaurant every Sunday.

English Grammar
Past Progressive Tense
» Form. The past progressive tense is formed with the past tense of the verb to be +
the present participle of the main verb.
Affirmative It was snowing.

It wasn’t
Negative
snowing.
Interrogative Was it snowing?
» Use: It is used for past actions which were in progress during a period of time in the
past. The limits of that period of time are not known or not important.
Some people were dancing in the living room,

others were watching a football match in the kitchen.
o Past progressive tense is also used for an interrupted activity in the past.
I was having a shower when the telephone rang.

Tom was sleeping on the sofa when his sister came into the room and
switched the TV on.
o It can be used with a point of time in the past to express an action that was in
progress before and probably after that moment.
At 10 o’clock I was having dinner.

What were you doing at 10 o’clock yesterday?

English Grammar
» Past progressive tense is also used in descriptions, as you can see in this excerpt
from The Walrus and the Carpenter (Carroll, 1871).
The sun was shining on the sea,

Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright-
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,

Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done-
“It’s very rude of him," she said,
“To come and spoil the fun!”
The sea was wet as wet could be,

The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead-
There were no birds to fly…
Past Perfect Tense
» Form. The past perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary verb have in the past +
the past participle of the main verb.
Affirmative I had finished my homework when Tom called.

Negative I hadn’t finished my homework when Tom called.
Interrogative Had you finished your homework when Tom called?

English Grammar
Use
o The past perfect tense is used to express an action that was completed before
point of time in the past.
The general manager had already told me about the vacancy when you rang.
I went back to my hotel room at midnight
and saw that someone had stolen my diamond necklace.
Past Perfect Progressive Tense
» Form. The past perfect progressive is formed with the verb to be in the past perfect,
i.e. had been + the present participle of the main verb. This tense does not have
passive form.
Affirmative We had been working.

Negative We hadn’t been working.
Interrogative Had you been working?

English Grammar
» Use. Past perfect progressive is used to express an action that was in progress
before a point of reference in the past or to express repeated actions that happened
before a moment in the past.
I had been trying to get in touch with him for hours before he rang.
The difference between the past perfect progressive and the past perfect simple is
similar to the difference between the present perfect progressive and the present
perfect simple.
4.5. Future forms
As mentioned before, there is no future tense in English in the sense that there are no
specific forms marked for the future, like work - worked, where worked is marked for
the past. There are forms to express future time. The term future tense is used in the
explanations below, because this is the term used in the majority of textbooks for
teaching and learning English as a foreign language.
Future Simple Tense
The two most common forms to express future time are as follows:
» The auxiliary verb will + the bare infinitive of the main verb.
o Form
Affirmative She will find a new flat.

Negative She will not find a new flat.
Interrogative Will she find a new flat?
o Use
• It is considered by many as neutral and expresses future fact.
My brother will be twenty tomorrow.

English Grammar
• This form can be used for predictions when they are based on opinion rather than
on evidence. That is why this form is often used with expressions such as I think, I
hope, I am sure, I believe, etc.
I think people will live on the Moon in 3028.
• For future actions when the decision is made at the moment of speaking, i.e.
unpremeditated actions.
There’s someone at the door. ~ I’ll open it.
• It can be used to express promise.
I will love you forever.
• It can be used to express request.
Will you help me with my homework?
• The form shall + bare infinitive of the main verb is less common now than in the
past. It is still used for question tags when the expression let’s appears in the
main clause.
Let’s go to the party, shall we?
» To be going to + bare infinitive of the main verb.

o Form.
Affirmative Clara is going to study medicine.
Negative Clara isn’t going to study medicine.
Interrogative Is Clara going to study medicine?
o Use
• It is used for prediction when the speaker considers that there is an evidence in
the present to support this prediction.
My little sister likes animals. When she grows up, she is going to be a vet.

English Grammar
• It is used for future intentions and plans when the decision is made before the
moment of speaking.
We are going to move to France next year.
Present progressive tense is used to express future arrangements. These are usually
personal arrangements. The action is planned and it is most often than not in the near
future. With this form we use expressions such as tomorrow, next week, etc. to indicate
that we refer to an action in the future.
I am playing tennis with my boyfriend tomorrow.
The arrangements the present progressive tense refers to are usually among people.
I am meeting the vice-president of the company next week.
Present Simple Tense
Present simple tense is used to express an action or event in the future when they are
viewed as unalterable, because they are based on a timetable or on a schedule of events.
Example: What time does the show start?
Future Progressive Tense
» Form. The future progressive tense is formed with the verb to be in its future form
+ the present participle of the main verb. This tense does not have passive form.
Affirmative I will be reading.

Negative I won’t be reading.
Interrogative Will you be reading?

English Grammar
» Use
The future progressive tense is used to refer to an action that will happen in the natural
course of events.
The guests will be coming to the party in an hour.
It expresses an action that will be in progress before and probably after a point of
reference in the future.
This time on Friday I will be flying to Moscow.
Future Perfect Tense
The future perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary verb have in its future form + the
past participle of the main verb.
» Form
Affirmative I will have spent all my money by the end of the month.
Negative I won’t have spent all my money by the end of the month.
Interrogative Will you have spent all your money by the end of the month?
» Use
Future perfect tense is used for actions or events that will be completed before a point
of reference (moment) in the future. It is usually used with time expressions beginning
with by.
I will have received the book I bought from Amazon by the end of the week.

English Grammar
Future Perfect Progressive Tense
The future perfect progressive tense is formed with the auxiliary verb have in its future
perfect form + the present participle of the main verb. This tense does not have passive
form.
» Form
Affirmative I will have been studying.

Negative I won’t have been studying.
Interrogative Will you have been studying?
» Use. It is used for actions that will be completed before a point of reference
(moment) in the future. The speaker puts the emphasis on the duration.
By the end of this year I will have been working for this company for 10 years.
The difference between the future perfect simple and future perfect progressive is
similar to the difference between the present perfect progressive and the present
perfect simple, and past perfect progressive and past perfect simple, respectively.
4.6. Bibliographical references
Carroll, L. (1871). The Walrus and the Carpenter. Retrieved from:

https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/walrus-and-carpenter

English Grammar
Downing, A. & Locke, Ph. (2006). English Grammar: A University Course. London &
New York: Routledge.
Kipling, R. (1967). At the End of the Passage in Christopher Dolley (Ed.) The Penguin
Book of English Short Stories (pp. 82-102). London: Penguin Books.

English Grammar
In Depth
The English Tense System
The master class offers a brief overview of the English tense system. It is divided in
three parts: present tenses, past tenses, and future time. This master class has a
practical application to everyday communication in English. A clear understanding of
the forms and usage of English tenses is essential not only for communicating
efficiently, but also for developing teaching skills in EFL.
This class is available in the virtual classroom
UNIT 4 – In Depth © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

English Grammar
Present Tenses
This short video provides a number of explanations and examples of how to use Present
Tenses in English.
Access to the video through the virtual campus or the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6LuWwb9whM
Events, States and Times. An essay on narrative discourse in English
Altshuler, D. (2016). Events, States and Times. An essay on narrative discourse in

English (pp. 135-150). Berlin: De Gruyter.
This book focuses on the temporal interpretation of narrative discourse in English. It

investigates the semantics and pragmatics of tense. Chapter 5 "Sequence of tense"
relates to the topic examined in this unit. It holds particular interest to those who
would like to study tense shifts in detail.
Access to this book on the UNIR virtual library.

English Grammar
English for Future Teachers: Learning English in an Educational Context
Sánchez Cuervo, M. & Ortega Barrera, I. (2016) English for Future Teachers: Learning
English in an Educational Context. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: Universidad de Las
Palmas de Gran Canaria.
In English for Future Teachers: Learning English in an Educational Context, Ivalla

Ortega Barrera and Margarita Esther Sánchez Cuervo offer a wide variety of techniques
and ideas for English teachers. They give some useful suggestions of how to work with
texts and grammar at school. They also include a brief analysis of multiple intelligences
and educational technology.
Access to the book on the UNIR virtual library.
Reference Time and English Past Tenses
Meyer-Viol, W.P.M. & Jones, J.S. (2011). Reference Time and English Tenses. Linguist
and Philos, 34, 223-256.
W.P.M. Meyer-Viol & J.S. Jones provide a formal account of the English past tenses
and examine these tenses in relation to their reference time. They explain why perfect
and preterite can be interchangeable in some cases and offer a solution to the “present
perfect puzzle”. They also explore the connections created in the perfect between event
time and speech time.
Available at the virtual campus under the art. 32.4 of the Spanish Intellectual Property
Law.

English Grammar
Simple Past – Past Progressive
This website offers a great variety of exercises that can help you improve your English.
The user-friendly design of the website makes it easy to find the information you need.
There is a clear explanation of Past Simple Tense and Past Progressive Tense. After
reading the definition and the examples, you can check your understanding of this
grammatical item by doing topic-related exercises.
Access to the website through the virtual campus or the following link:
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpas-paspro

English Grammar
Test
1. Choose the correct answer.

A. The conference starts at 9:00 am.
B. The conference will start at 9:00 am.
C. Both A and B are correct.
2. Choose the correct answer: He denied that

A. he broke the window.
B. he had broken the window.
C. the window has been broken.
3. Choose the correct answer: This is the first time we had been to the British Museum,
although
A. we have visited London a few times before.
B. had visited London a few times before.
C. we had been visiting London a few times before.
4. Choose the correct answer to the question: How did you get to the station?
A. I walked. It took me ten minutes.
B. I had walked. It took me ten minutes.
C. I had been walking. It took me ten minutes.
5. Choose the correct answer:

A. It snowed all day, so the roads are slippery.
B. It was snowing all day, so the roads are slippery.
C. It has been snowing all day, so the roads are slippery.

A. I am tired. I won’t go to the party. I will watch TV, instead.
B. I am tired. I am not going to the party. I am watching TV, instead.
C. I am tired. I am not going to go to the party. I am going to watch TV, instead.
UNIT 4 – Test © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

English Grammar

A. Most people will forget the incident that hurt you by the end of the term.
B. Most people will have forgotten the incident that hurt you by the end of the
term.
C. Most people forget the incident that hurt you by the end of the term.

A. I lived in Paris when I met my wife.
B. I was living in Paris when I met my wife.
C. I lived in Paris when I was meeting my wife.
9. Choose the correct answer I was sure

A. that I have seen this film before.
B. that I had seen this film before.
C. that I saw this film before.
10. Choose the correct answer: Jane will probably have completed the task by the
time:
A. she leaves this morning.
B. she will leave this morning.
C. she has left this morning.
UNIT 4 – Test © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

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The English Tense System

[4.1] How to study this unit?

[4.2] The English tense system

[4.3] Present tenses

[4.4] Past tenses

[4.5] Future forms

[4.6] Bibliographical references

Present simple Past simple Future perfect

Present Past progressive Future perfect

Present perfect Past perfect Future simple

Present perfect Past perfect Future

Present Simple Tense and

© Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

Pay attention to…

4.1. How to study this unit?

In order to study this unit you should read:

Hewings, M. (2005). Advanced Grammar in Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University

» Firstly, we will describe the present tenses and their use.

4.2. The English tense system

UNIT 4 – Pay attention to… © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

Incomplete: I was reading a book on the plane.

Present perfect tense, before now/the moment of speaking:

I have painted my kitchen pink.

Active Simple Progressive

UNIT 4 – Pay attention to… © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

4.3. Present tenses

Present Simple Tense

We add -s or -es to the verb in the third person singular.

I usually get up at 9 o’clock.

UNIT 4 – Pay attention to… © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

Present Progressive Tense

They are playing.

Please be quiet. I am watching my favourite TV show now.

I am doing a cooking course.

UNIT 4 – Pay attention to… © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

I am having lunch with my parents tomorrow.

Compare the following sentences:

I am having lunch with my parents.

Peter is always coming late to school.

The repeated action might be accidental.

I am always forgetting the name of this actor.

The repeated action might not be annoying the speaker.

Peter reads all the time.

*I am agreeing with you.

UNIT 4 – Pay attention to… © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

Present Perfect Tense

Affirmative She has left.

I have seen this film three times.

I have written 10 pages so far.

I have put some weight.

UNIT 4 – Pay attention to… © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

I have bought a new bag, but I don’t like it.

It can be used to express an action that happened in an incomplete period of time.

I have seen Susan this morning.

I saw Susan this morning.

In some cases, incomplete period of time is indicated by using lately or recently.

I have had a lot of work lately.

It can be used with for and since.

I have studied French since 2000.

UNIT 4 – Pay attention to… © Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR)

Who has broken the Italian vase?

My cousin is tired. He has been cutting wood for three hours.

Present Perfect Past Simple