TENSES
What are traditionally called the 12 tenses are in fact 12 combinations of tense
(relating to time) and aspect (how the verb is experienced, i.e. as a completed action
or as still in progress). It is important to understand why we would choose a particular
tense or aspect in a particular situation. For example, how can “He will arrive at 9pm
tomorrow” and “He will be arriving at 9pm tomorrow” both be correct? The answer is
that we must consider the aspect. In this case, the first sentence focuses strongly on the
event and time, while the second sentence is less definite. Consider the following chart:
TENSES
PAST PRESENT FUTURE
Simple watched watch / watches will watch
Perfect
(have + past had watched have / has watched will have watched
ASPECT
participle)
Progressive/
Continuous was / were watching am / is / are watching will be watching
(be + -ing)
Perfect Progressive/
Continuous had been watching have / has been watching will have been watching
(have + been + -ing)
SIMPLE ASPECT: used for events which are immediate facts (or strong predictions in the future), complete or
unchanging.
• I live in Adelaide. • I attended a meeting last week.
• I get the bus to work every day. • I will take the exam next year.
• I have a meeting next Wednesday. (It is already planned.)
PERFECT ASPECT: used to show the prior nature of an event in relation to some other point in time.
• By the end of next month, she will
• I have written my essay. (Present reference) (Future reference)
have been living here for two years.
• He will have left before we get
• He had left before I arrived. (Past reference) (Future reference)
there.
PROGRESSIVE ASPECT: used for an event which is temporary or changing.
• They are living in Adelaide. (Temporary situation) • By the end of next month, she will have (Temporary situation)
been living here for two years.
• She is becoming more and more deaf. (Changing situation)
• He will be doing an examination this (Temporary situation)
time tomorrow
EXPRESSIONS
Some expressions can help us decide which aspect to use.
SIMPLE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
• last year • just • now
• next year • already • at the moment
• everyday • yet
• since
(The above information on tense & aspect is mostly taken from Celce-Murcia, M & Larsen-Freeman, D 1999, The grammar book, 2nd edn, Heinle & Heinle, USA.)
TENSES _20231226
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, TENSES
STATIVE VERBS
Some verbs are not usually used in a progressive form. We do not say, for instance, “I am
hating coffee” or “It is measuring five kilometres”. These “stative verbs” indicate stability
(e.g. “I hate coffee and will not change my mind”). Other verbs change their meanings if
they are used progressively. Compare, for example, “I think it’s going to rain” (it is my
opinion) and “I’m thinking about changing jobs” (I am considering).
EMOTION dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish
SURPRISE astonish, surprise
believe, doubt, feel (have an opinion), imagine (suppose), know, mean, recognise, remember, suppose,
COMPREHENSION think (have an opinion), understand
PERCEPTION hear, measure, see, smell (have a smell), sound, taste, weigh
belong to, concern, consist of, contain, depend on, deserve, fit, include, involve, lack, matter, need, owe,
RELATIONSHIP own, possess
APPEARANCE appear (seem), resemble, seem
SOME CONTRASTS
1. PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
• I am wearing my sunglasses because the sun is bright. Temporary
• What are you doing next week? Specific; plan
• I am thinking about the answer Active
SIMPLE PRESENT
• I wear glasses. Habitual
• What do you do every day? Generic
• I think the answer is wrong. Stative
2. PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
• I have been visiting my grandmother. Length of time close to present; informal
Continuity into the future implied and length of
• I have been teaching for twenty years. action stressed.
• She has been writing a book. Incomplete
PRESENT PERFECT
• I have visited my grandmother. Finished action
• I have taught for twenty years. Continuity into the future possible
• She has written a book. Complete
3. SIMPLE PAST
• My father lived here all his life. Complete (father has died)
• Did you visit Paris on your European trip? Complete
PRESENT PERFECT
• My father has lived here all his life Incomplete (he still lives here)
• Have you ever visited Paris? Incomplete
TENSES _20231226
© Student Learning Support Service, 2022 Page 2 of 8
students.flinders.edu.au/slss
What are traditionally called the 12 tenses are in fact 12 combinations of tense
(relating to time) and aspect (how the verb is experienced, i.e. as a completed action
or as still in progress). It is important to understand why we would choose a particular
tense or aspect in a particular situation. For example, how can “He will arrive at 9pm
tomorrow” and “He will be arriving at 9pm tomorrow” both be correct? The answer is
that we must consider the aspect. In this case, the first sentence focuses strongly on the
event and time, while the second sentence is less definite. Consider the following chart:
TENSES
PAST PRESENT FUTURE
Simple watched watch / watches will watch
Perfect
(have + past had watched have / has watched will have watched
ASPECT
participle)
Progressive/
Continuous was / were watching am / is / are watching will be watching
(be + -ing)
Perfect Progressive/
Continuous had been watching have / has been watching will have been watching
(have + been + -ing)
SIMPLE ASPECT: used for events which are immediate facts (or strong predictions in the future), complete or
unchanging.
• I live in Adelaide. • I attended a meeting last week.
• I get the bus to work every day. • I will take the exam next year.
• I have a meeting next Wednesday. (It is already planned.)
PERFECT ASPECT: used to show the prior nature of an event in relation to some other point in time.
• By the end of next month, she will
• I have written my essay. (Present reference) (Future reference)
have been living here for two years.
• He will have left before we get
• He had left before I arrived. (Past reference) (Future reference)
there.
PROGRESSIVE ASPECT: used for an event which is temporary or changing.
• They are living in Adelaide. (Temporary situation) • By the end of next month, she will have (Temporary situation)
been living here for two years.
• She is becoming more and more deaf. (Changing situation)
• He will be doing an examination this (Temporary situation)
time tomorrow
EXPRESSIONS
Some expressions can help us decide which aspect to use.
SIMPLE PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
• last year • just • now
• next year • already • at the moment
• everyday • yet
• since
(The above information on tense & aspect is mostly taken from Celce-Murcia, M & Larsen-Freeman, D 1999, The grammar book, 2nd edn, Heinle & Heinle, USA.)
TENSES _20231226
© Student Learning Support Service, 2022 Page 1 of 8
students.flinders.edu.au/slss
, TENSES
STATIVE VERBS
Some verbs are not usually used in a progressive form. We do not say, for instance, “I am
hating coffee” or “It is measuring five kilometres”. These “stative verbs” indicate stability
(e.g. “I hate coffee and will not change my mind”). Other verbs change their meanings if
they are used progressively. Compare, for example, “I think it’s going to rain” (it is my
opinion) and “I’m thinking about changing jobs” (I am considering).
EMOTION dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish
SURPRISE astonish, surprise
believe, doubt, feel (have an opinion), imagine (suppose), know, mean, recognise, remember, suppose,
COMPREHENSION think (have an opinion), understand
PERCEPTION hear, measure, see, smell (have a smell), sound, taste, weigh
belong to, concern, consist of, contain, depend on, deserve, fit, include, involve, lack, matter, need, owe,
RELATIONSHIP own, possess
APPEARANCE appear (seem), resemble, seem
SOME CONTRASTS
1. PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
• I am wearing my sunglasses because the sun is bright. Temporary
• What are you doing next week? Specific; plan
• I am thinking about the answer Active
SIMPLE PRESENT
• I wear glasses. Habitual
• What do you do every day? Generic
• I think the answer is wrong. Stative
2. PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
• I have been visiting my grandmother. Length of time close to present; informal
Continuity into the future implied and length of
• I have been teaching for twenty years. action stressed.
• She has been writing a book. Incomplete
PRESENT PERFECT
• I have visited my grandmother. Finished action
• I have taught for twenty years. Continuity into the future possible
• She has written a book. Complete
3. SIMPLE PAST
• My father lived here all his life. Complete (father has died)
• Did you visit Paris on your European trip? Complete
PRESENT PERFECT
• My father has lived here all his life Incomplete (he still lives here)
• Have you ever visited Paris? Incomplete
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