Catholic University of Mozambique

Distance Learning Institute

The present, past and future simple tenses

Pedrito Custódio Viagem Nicasse – 708231528

Course: Licenciatura em ensino de

Geografia
Subject: Inglês
Frequency Year: 1º
Tutor: José Muzaraijo Victor Castiano
Chapo

Nampula, August, 2023

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Contents

1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 5

1.1. Objectives of the research ................................................................................................. 5

1.1.1. General objective ............................................................................................................ 5

1.1.2. Specific objectives .......................................................................................................... 5

1.2. Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 5

2. The present, past and future simple tenses………………………….………………………6

2.1. Simple tense………………………………………………………………………………6

2.1.1. The present simple tense……………………………..…………………………………6

2.1.2. The past simple tense……………………..................………………………………….7

2.1.3. The future simple tense……………………..…………………………………………8

Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………11

Bibliography…………………………………………………………………………………12
 1. Introduction

Verb tenses are changes or additions to verbs to show when the action took place: in the past,
present, or future. The phrase verb tense is also used for grammatical aspects, which add more
details about the duration or time an action takes. Verb tenses are essential for speaking
English correctly, but with all the different forms and functions, they can get confusing. In
this field work we are going to talk about the three main English tenses: The present, past and
future simple tenses, explaining their meaning, use and their formation, finally illustrating
examples for each.

1.1. Objectives of the research

1.1.1. General objective
 To comprehend the present, past and future simple tenses.
1.1.2. Specific objectives
 To identify the present, past and future simple tenses;
 To explain the use of the present, past and future simple tenses;
 To describe the formation of the present, past and future simple tenses.
1.2. Methodology

Every research assignment follows a general rule or methodology to get or reach the goals
that have designed to be got. Therefore, the methodology to be used in any assignment
depends on the kind of research given. So, the methodology used to realize this research was
based on exploratory or Qualitative and Quantitative methodology, study area, research
design, that consist on researching the facts and analysing the articles and contents.

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 2. The present, past and future simple tenses

According to Pullum (2002), the past, present, and future are the central divisions of time in
English. The present represents actions happening now, while the past represents actions that
happened earlier, and the future describes actions that will happen later.

The verb tenses show when an action took place, as well as how long it occurred. The main
verb tenses are the past, present, and future.

There are also additional aspects that give extra details, such as the length of time the action
occurred, which actions happened first, or whether a past action has an impact on the present.

2.1. Simple tense

For Klammer (2005), a tense is a verb form that shows the time of an action or condition.
Verbs have three simple tenses: the present, the past, and the future. The present tense shows
an action or condition that occurs now. The past tense shows an action or condition that was
completed in the past. The future tense shows an action or condition that will occur in the
future.

The simple tense is a grammatical aspect that refers to the normal forms of the past, present,
and future tenses, nothing fancy. Unlike the other aspects, it doesn’t add any new information.
True to its name, simple tenses are the easiest to form and have the fewest rules.

2.1.1. The present simple tense

The simple present is the most basic of the English tenses. It’s used for individual actions or
habitual actions in the present. In general, the simple present expresses events or situations
that exit always, usually, habitually; they exist now, have existed in the past, and probably
will exist in the future.

Fig.

Often the simple present is just the root verb with no changes or additions. The main
exception to this is when the subject is third person and singular. In this case you add the
suffix-s.
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If the verb ends in o, ch, sh, th, ss, gh, or z, you add -es.

If the verb ends in a consonant and y (and the subject is third-person singular), drop the y and
add –ies.

Formation:

Assertive rule: Sub + V1 + s/es + object

Examples:

 He writes a letter;
 We play football;
 She carries a baby.

Negative rule: Sub + does not + V1 + s/es +

object
Examples:

 He does not write a letter ;

 We don’t play football;
 She does not carry a baby.

Interrogative rule: Does + sub + V1 + s/es + object

Examples:

 Does he write a letter?

 Do we play football?
 Does she carry a baby?
2.1.2. The past simple tense

We use the simple past to show actions completed in the past, with no extra emphasis. This
tense refers to an action that began and ended at a particular time in the past.

Fig.

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For regular verbs, you form the simple past tense by adding the suffix-ed to the end of the
verb (or just-d if the past tense verb already ends in an e).

Be careful of irregular past tense verbs, however. These don’t follow the normal rules and use
their own unique forms for the past tense. For example, the past tense of the irregular verb
"go" is went.

Formation:

Assertive rule: Subject + V2 + Object

Examples:

 She talked to the teacher;

 John went to Maputo;
 We enjoyed the holidays.

Negative rule: Subject + didn’t + V1 + Object

Examples:

 She didn’t talk to the teacher;

 John didn’t go to Maputo;
 We didn’t enjoy the holidays.

Interrogative rule: Did + Subject + V1 + Object + (?)

Examples:

 Did she talk to the teacher?

 Did John go to Maputo?
 Did we enjoy the holidays?
2.1.3. The future simple tense

According to Oxford English grammar, the simple future tense is used for actions that have
not happened yet but will later. To form the simple future, just place the modal verb will
before the root form of the main verb. (Note that if the action will happen in the near future,
you can use the present continuous instead.)

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Thomas (2005), argues that the future simple tense tells us about an action which has not
occurred yet and will occur after saying or in future.

Fig.

The general rule of future tense is: will/Shall + Verb (1st form).

In future tense helping verb ‘Shall’ is used with ‘I’ and ‘We’. Helping verb ‘Will’

is used with all others. When you are to make a commitment or warn someone or

emphasize something, use of 'will/shall' is reversed. ‘Will’ is used with ‘I’ and ‘We’

and 'shall' is used with others.

In general speaking there is hardly any difference between 'shall and will' and

normally ‘Will’ is used with all.

Formation

Affirmative rule: Subject + Will/Shall + Verb (Ist form)

+ Object
Examples:

 He will go to school;
 We shall talk tomorrow;
 You will be an engineer.

Negative rule: Subject + Will/Shall + Not + Verb (Ist form) +

Object
Examples:

 He will not go to school;

 We shall not talk tomorrow;
 You will not be an engineer.

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Interrogative rule: Will/Shall + Subject + Verb (Ist
form) + Object + (?)
Examples:

 Will he go to school?
 Shall we talk tomorrow?
 Will you be an engineer?

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Conclusion

Reaching in this stage of this interesting research work we can assure that a tense is a verb
form that shows the time of an action or condition. And the verbs have three simple tenses:
The present, the past, and the future. The present tense shows an action or condition that
occurs now; it is used for present action, basic truth or general habitual action. The past tense
shows an action or condition that was completed in the past; it is used for completed action or
condition. The future tense shows an action or condition that will occur in the future, it is used
for action that will happen at a particular time in the future.

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Bibliography References

Huddleston, R. and Pullum, G. K. (2002) The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language.
Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Klammer.; Thomas.; Muriel Schulz.; & Angela Della Volpe. (2005). Analyzing English
Grammar. 5th ed. New York: Pearson Education, Print.

Lunsford, Andrea. (2010). The Everyday Writer. 4th ed. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's.
Print.

MURPHY, R. (2004). English Grammar in Use, 3ed, Cambridge, USA

SARGEANT H. (2007). Basic English Grammar - for English Language Learners.

Saddleback Educational Publishing, USA.

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