TENSE-ASPECT

SYSTEM
Prepared by: Villasis & Orlanes
WHY TENSES ARE IMPORTANT TO LEARN?
TENSE
“Verb tense” refers to when the action
occurred.
 refers to the absolute location of an
event or action in time, either the
present or the past. It is marked by an
inflection of the verb
David walks to school (present tense)
David walked to school (past tense)
PRESENT TENSE
 refers to the action or event that takes
place or is taking place in the present.
 represents the current activity or the
present state of being of the subject in
the given context.
FOUR (4) DIFFERENT
FORMS/ TYPES OF
PRESENT TENSE
 SIMPLE PRESENT OR
1)

PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE

 used to indicate the current action or an action
that takes place regularly.

Example:
I go to school everyday.
He plays cricket.

[ Subject + Verb in the base form/third person

plural form + the rest of the sentence ]
2) PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
 used to denote an action that is continuing at
the present moment.
Example:
Tharun is watching a movie.
They are planning a birthday party for
their friend.

[Subject + Helping Verb(am/is/are) + Main

verb+ing + the rest of the sentence]
3) PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
 used to indicate an action that is used to denote
an action that is indefinite and still has its effect
on the subject or object in the sentence.
Example:
Venu has left the hall
I have reached home.
Rani has kept this notebook for so many years.
[ Subject + Helping Verb (have/has) + Past
participle of the main verb + the rest of the
sentence along with the time frame]
4)
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TE
NSE
   used to represent an action that began in the
recent past and is still continuing.

Example:
They have been waiting for you for a long time.
Archana has been checking her phone every
now and then.

[Subject + Have/Has + Been + Verb+ing + the rest

of the sentence ]
Positive Negative Interrogative Negative
Interrogative

Subject + Verb Subject + Do Do/Does + Don’t/Doesn’t +

not/Does not Subject + Verb Subject + Verb
(Don’t/Doesn’t)
+ Verb

Example: Example: Example:  Example: 

She likes  She does not Does she like pi Doesn’t 
pizzas. like pizzas. zzas? she like pizzas?
 English grammar is considered to have only two
tenses by modern Grammarians; the present
tense and the past tense. According to them, future
tense does not exist because the future is not
expressed by changes that are made to the form of
the verb, like in the present tense and the past tense.
All we are left with is a perception of a time in the
future.
 “Reference to other times” -- can be made in a
number of ways, by using the modal auxiliary will, or
the semi-auxiliary be going to: 
David will walk to school tomorrow
David is going to walk to school tomorrow.
FOUR (4) TENSES
UNDER THE FUTURE
1) Simple future tense

1. Used to describe actions that we think or believe will happen in the

future like: 
• I’m sure Joshua will get the highest marks. 
• I think the Los Angeles Lakers will win the trophy. 

2. Used to talk about things that we cannot control. This tense expresses
the future as a fact like: 
• We will know our exam results on Friday. 
•  I shall be twenty five in December. 
• The elections will take place by the end of July. 

[ On breaking down the sentence, we get the following

structure: Subject(S) + will/shall + Base form of the
verb(V1) + Remaining Part (RP) ]
 Future continuous tense
2)

The future continuous tense is: 

1. Used to talk about actions which will be in progress at a
time in future like: 
 I will be playing video games in the evening. 

 My father will be cooking at night. 

2. Used to talk about actions which are already planned or

which are expected to happen in the future like: 
 The shop will be opening next week. 

 The postman will be coming in an hour. 

[ Subject(S) + will/shall + be +ing form of the

verb + Remaining Part (RP)  ]
3) Future perfect tense
- The future perfect tense is used to talk about
actions that will be completed by a certain time
in the future like: 
 I shall have done my homework by then. 

 Harry will have left for school before you go to

see him. 

[ Subject(S) + will/shall + have + Past participle
form of the verb(V3) + Remaining Part (RP) ]
4) Future perfect continuous tense
- Used to describe actions that will be in progress over
a period of time that is bound to end in the future
like: 
 By this May, I shall have been staying here for
fourteen years. 
 I will have been teaching in this school for seven
years next month. 

[ Subject(S) + will/shall + have been + ing form of the

verb + Remaining Part (RP) ]
12 TENSES (COMBINATIONS OF TENSE AND ASPECT)
Past Present Future

Past Simple Present Simple Future Simple

I walked / I sang I walk / I sing I will walk / I will sing

Past Continuous Present Continuous Future Continuous

I was walking / I was I am walking / I am I will be walking / I will be
singing singing singing

Future Perfect
Past Perfect Present Perfect
I will have walked / I will
I had walked / I had sung I have walked / I have sung
have sung

Past Perfect Continuous Present Perfect Continuous Future Perfect Continuous

I had been walking / I had I have been walking / I I will have been walking / I
been singing have been singing will have been singing
KEY TAKEAWAYS

Key Points
 In English, the three basic verb tenses are past, present, and
future.
 Verbs in past tense express what happened in the past.

 Verbs in present tense express actions that are currently

happening, or occur over a period of time that includes the
present.
 Verbs in future tense express actions that will happen in the
future.
 All verbs have both tense and aspect. Because there are three
verb tenses and four verb aspects, there are twelve possible
combinations of tense and aspect.