Tense and Aspect

• Before talking about tense and aspect let’s

first talk about verbs.
Verbs
Verbs are the words in a sentence that
describe the action of a sentence or that
introduce the condition or state of someone
or something in the sentence.
 FORM Will
[will + verb]
Examples:
• You will help him later.
• Will you help him later?
• You will not help him later.
• Bobbie will call you tomorrow with details
about the agenda.
 Action: Anna throws the ball.
Introduction of a condition
James is sick.
There are many action verbs . Those that can
have a direct object are often called Transitive
Verbs
• Buy He buys a newspaper.
• Carry I am carrying the child.
Intransitive Verbs are not followed by a direct
object. They often show movement to a place
and are sometimes followed by a
prepositional phrase
• Drive He was driving fast.
• Come Can you come to the party?
• Sail We are sailing to Europe.
 Linking verbs
Other verbs introduce the condition of state of
someone or something. They do not take a
direct object and are most often followed by
an adjective. These verbs are usually called
Linking Verbs.
Linking Verbs Used in a sentence
• Appear The boy appear quite well.
• Be I am hungry.
• Feel It feels hot.
 Regular Verbs
A regular verb is any verb whose conjugation
follows the typical pattern, or one of the
typical patterns of the language to which it
belongs.
In linguistics, conjugation is the creation of
derived forms of a verb from its principal parts
by inflection (alteration of form according to
rules of grammar)
• Examples of regular verbs
• Play
• Enter
These form their inflected parts by adding the
typical endings -s, -ing and -ed
 Irregular Verbs
A verb whose conjugation follows a different
pattern is called an Irregular Verb.
Examples:
• Drink
• Hit
These verbs are irregular since some of their
parts are not made according to the typical
pattern- drank and drunk (not drinked) hit (as
past tense and past participle) not “hitted”
 Aspect and Tense
Aspect describes the timescale of a verb-it
establishes whether the action or state of a
verb is complete or still in progress.
There are two types of aspect: the perfect (or
perfective) and Progressive.
The perfect aspect is constructed using the
auxiliary have + past participle
The Present Perfect (has or have +past
participle) is used for any action continuing in
the present or having relevance in the
present.
• We have eaten in this restaurant for years [We
still do]
The Past Perfect (had + past participle)
describes a previous time in the past.
• The building had decayed for years.
 The Progressive Aspect
 Is constructed using the auxiliary be +present participle or
auxiliaries have + be + present participle.
 The progressive aspect implies that an activity is ongoing
and is probably not complete
• Present Progressive: The boys are playing football.
• Past Progressive: The ladies were playing tennis.
• Present Perfect Progressive: The lions have been roaring
wildly all day.
• Past Perfect Progressive: The weeds had been growing
throughout the summer.
 Tense
Is a form of a verb that is used to show when an
action happened.
In a away, it is related to aspect because both
tense and aspect relate to the happening
described by the verb to time in the past, present
and future.
There are many ways of categorising the twelve
possible verb tenses. The verb tenses may be
categorised according to the time frame: past
tenses, present tenses, and future tenses.
 Verb Tense: Time
The four past tenses are :
• the simple past ("I went")
• the past progressive ("I was going")
• the past perfect ("I had gone")
• the past perfect progressive ("I had been
going")
The four present tenses are
• the simple present ("I go")
• the present progressive ("I am going")
• the present perfect ("I have gone")
• the present perfect progressive ("I have been
going")
The four future tenses are
• the simple future ("I will go")
• the future progressive ("I will be going")
• the future perfect ("I will have gone")
• the future perfect progressive ("I will have
been going")
 The function of Verb Tenses
The Simple Present Tense
The simple present is used to describe an
action, an event, or condition that is occurring
in the present, at the moment of speaking or
writing. The simple present is used when the
precise beginning or ending of a present
action, event, or condition is unknown or is
unimportant to the meaning of the sentence.
Each of the highlighted verbs in the following
sentences is in the simple present tense and each
sentence describes an action taking place in the
present:
• Deborah waits patiently while Bridget books the
tickets.
• The shelf holds three books and a vase of flowers.
• The crowd moves across the field in an attempt to
see the rock star get into her helicopter.
The simple present is used to express general
truths such as scientific fact, as in the following
sentences:
• Rectangles have four sides.
• The moon circles the earth once every 28 days.
• Menarche and menopause mark the beginning
and the ending of a woman's reproductive
history.
The simple present is used to indicate a
habitual action, event, or condition, as in the
following sentences:
• My grandmother sends me new pair of jean
trousers every month.
• In fairy tales, things happen in threes.
• We never finish jigsaw puzzles because the cat
always eats some of the pieces.
The simple present can also be used to refer
to a future event when used in conjunction
with an adverb or adverbial phrase, as in the
following sentences:
• The doors open in 10 minutes.
• The premier arrives on Tuesday.
• Classes end next week.
 Special use of the Present Time
In special circumstances, the past tense can be
used to refer to the present.
• Did you want to speak to me?
• I wondered whether you would help me.
• I was wondering whether you have free time.
Here the past tense and past continuous tense
is an indirect and more tactful alternative to
the Simple Present Tense
 The Present progressive
While the simple present and the present
progressive are sometimes used
interchangeably, the present progressive
emphasises the continuing nature of an act,
event, or condition. It is denoted by auxiliary
verbs and a verb ending in -ing
• KPLA is broadcasting the hits of the 70s this
evening.
• The presses are printing the first edition of
tomorrow's paper.
The present progressive is occasionally used to
refer to a future event when used in
conjunction with an adverb or adverbial
phrase, as in the following sentences.
• The doors are opening in 10 minutes.
• The premier is arriving on Tuesday.
• Classes are ending next week.
 The Present Perfect Tense
Is denoted by (has or have + past participle)
Is used to describe action that began in the
past and continues into the present or has just
been completed at the moment of utterance.
The present perfect is often used to suggest
that a past action still has an effect upon
something happening in the present.
• They have not delivered the documents we need.
This sentence suggest that the documents were
not delivered in the past and that they are still
undelivered.
• The health department has decided that all high
school students should be immunised against
meningitis.
The writer of this sentence uses the present
perfect in order to suggest that the decision made
in the past is still of importance in the present.
• The government has cut university budgets;
consequently, the dean has increased the size of
most classes.
Here both actions took place sometime in the
past and continue to influence the present.
• The heat wave has lasted three weeks.
In this sentence, the writer uses the present
perfect to indicate that a condition (the heat
wave) began in past and continues to affect the
present.
 The Present Perfect Progressive
Tense
This tense is formed with the modal "HAVE" or
"HAS" (for third-person singular subjects) plus
"BEEN," plus the present participle of the verb
(with an -ing ending)
It is used to describe an action, event, or
condition that has begun in the past and
continues into the present. The present perfect
progressive, however, is used to stress the on-
going nature of that action, condition, or event.
• That dog has been barking for three hours; I
wonder if someone will call the owner.
• I have been relying on my Christmas bonus to
pay for the gifts I buy for my large family.
• They have been publishing this comic book for
ten years.
• We have been seeing geese flying south all
afternoon.
 The Simple Past Tense
The simple past is used to describe an action,
an event, or condition that occurred in the
past, sometime before the moment of
speaking or writing.
• The storyteller began every story by saying "A
long time ago when the earth was green."
• Phoebe gripped the hammer tightly and
nailed the boards together.
 The Past Progressive Tense
The past progressive tense is used to described
actions ongoing in the past. These actions often
take place within a specific time frame. While
actions referred to in the present progressive
have some connection to the present, actions
referred in the past progressive have no
immediate or obvious connection to the present.
The on-going actions took place and were
completed at some point well before the time of
speaking or writing.
• The cat was walking along the tree branch.
 This sentence describes an action that took place over a
period of continuous time in the past. The cat's actions
have no immediate relationship to anything occurring
now in the present.
• When the recess bell rang, Jesse was writing a long
division problem on the blackboard.
• This sentence describes actions ("ran" and "was writing")
that took place sometime in the past, and emphasises
the continuing nature of one of the actions ("was
writing").
 The Past Perfect Tense
The PAST PERFECT TENSE indicates that an
action was completed (finished or
"perfected") at some point in the past before
something else happened. This tense is
formed with the past tense form of "to have"
(HAD) plus the past participle of the verb
(which can be either regular or irregular in
form
 The past perfect tense is used to refer to actions that
took place and were completed in the past. The past
perfect is often used to emphasise that one action,
event or condition ended before another past action,
event, or condition began.
• Miriam arrived at 5:00 p.m. but Mr. Whitaker had
closed the store.
 All the events in this sentence took place in the past,
but the act of closing the store takes place before
Miriam arrives at the store.
The Past Perfect Progressive Tense
The past perfect progressive is used to
indicate that a continuing action in the past
began before another past action began or
interrupted the first action. It also indicates a
continuous action that was completed at
some point in the past.
This tense is formed with the modal "HAD"
plus "BEEN," plus the present participle of the
verb (with an -ing ending
• The toddlers had been running around the school yard for
ten minutes before the teachers shooed them back inside.
 Here the action of the toddlers ("had been running") is
ongoing in the past and precedes the actions of the
teachers ("shooed") which also takes place in the past.
• We had been talking about repainting the front room for
three years and last night we finally bought the paint.
• In this example, the ongoing action of "talking" precedes
another past action ("bought").
 The Future Tense
The FUTURE TENSE indicates that an action is in
the future relative to the speaker or writer.
The future tense employs the helping verbs will
or shall with the base form of the verb:
She will leave soon.
We shall overcome.
The future is also formed with the use of a form
of "go" plus the infinitive of the verb: He is going
to faint.
 When do we use Will?
USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action
"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do
something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one
the speaker offers to do for someone else. Often,
we use "will" to respond to someone else's
complaint or request for help. We also use "will"
when we request that someone help us or
volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we
use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to
voluntarily do something.
 Examples:
• I will send you the information when I get it.
• I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can
read it.
• Will you help me move this heavy table?
• Will you make dinner?
• I will not do your homework for you.
• I won't do all the housework myself!
• A: I'm really hungry.
B: I'll make some sandwiches. A: I'm so tired.
I'm about to fall asleep.
B: I'll get you some coffee. A: The phone is
ringing.
B: I'll get it.
 USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise
"Will" is usually used in promises.
• Examples:
• I will call you when I arrive.
• If I am elected President of the United States, I
will make sure everyone has access to
inexpensive health insurance.
• I promise I will not tell him about the surprise
party.
• Don't worry, I'll be careful.I won't tell anyone
your secret.
 FORM Be Going To

[am/is/are + going to + verb]

• Examples:
• You are going to meet Jane tonight.
• Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
• You are not going to meet Jane tonight.
 Use “Be going to” to Express a Plan
 "Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It
expresses the idea that a person intends to do
something in the future. It does not matter whether the
plan is realistic or not.
• He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.
• She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.
• A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?
B: We are going to meet at 6 PM. I'm going to be an
actor when I grow up.
 USE "Will" or "Be Going to" to
Express a Prediction
Both "will" and "be going to" can express the
idea of a general prediction about the future.
Predictions are guesses about what might
happen in the future.
• The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.
• The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting
year.
• John Smith will be the next President.
• John Smith is going to be the next President.
• The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy
Awards.
• The movie "Zenith" is going to win several
Academy Awards.
 The Future Progressive Tense
The future progressive tense is used to
describe actions ongoing in the future. Thus, it
is used to refer to continuing action that will
occur in the future.
This tense is formed with the modal "will" plus
"be," plus the present participle of the verb
(with an -ing ending)
• The glee club will be performing at the
celebration of the town's centenary.
• Ian will be working on the computer system
for the next two weeks.
• The selection committee will be meeting
every Wednesday morning.
• We will be writing an exam every afternoon
next week.
 The Future Perfect Tense
The future perfect is used to refer to an action
that will be completed sometime in the future
before another action takes place.
Future Perfect has two different forms: "will
have done" and "be going to have done."
Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect
forms are usually interchangeable.
 FORM Future Perfect with "Will"

[will have + past participle]

• Examples:
• You will have perfected your English by the
time you come back from the U.S.
• Will you have perfected your English by the
time you come back from the U.S.?
• You will not have perfected your English by
the time you come back from the U.S.
 FORM Future Perfect with "Be Going To"

[am/is/are + going to have + past participle]

• Examples:
• You are going to have perfected your English by
the time you come back from the U.S.
• Are you going to have perfected your English by
the time you come back from the U.S.?
• You are not going to have perfected your English
by the time you come back from the U.S.
• The surgeon will have operated on 6 patients
before she attends a luncheon meeting.
In this sentence, the act of operating ("will
have operated") takes place in the future
sometime before the act of attending
("attends").
 The Future Perfect Progressive
Tense
The future perfect progressive tense is used
to indicate a continuing action that will be
completed at some specified time in the
future. This tense is rarely used.
This tense is formed with the modal "WILL"
plus the modal "HAVE" plus "BEEN" plus the
present participle of the verb (with an -ing
ending)
• Next Thursday, I will have been working on
this project for three years.
• I will have been studying Greek for three years
by the end of this term.
In this sentence, the future perfect
progressive is used to indicate the ongoing
nature of the future act of the studying. The
act of studying ("will have been studying") will
occur before the upcoming end of term.