Tenses in English
There are three main tenses:
past, present, and future.
Yes, it’s based on the time.
But it is not enough to understand tenses in English.
Here come aspects into play. Aspect is simply ‘how something looks’.
In English, each of these tenses can take four main aspects:
1. Simple
2. Perfect
3. Continuous (also known as progressive)
4. Perfect continuous. (Combination of two aspects perfect and continuous)
What is aspects in English Grammar?
Aspect in English grammar expresses how an action, event, or state, extends over time. That is aspect refers to the duration of an event within a particular tense.
In other words, the aspect of a tense allows us to describe or understand how an event happens over time.
What is the role of aspect in English grammar?
In English grammar, aspect is a verb form that indicates time-related characteristics, such as the completion, duration, or repetition of an action.
1. Simple Aspect
The simple aspect is used to express a fact. The verb in the simple aspect does not make it clear whether the action is a complete action or a habitual action. One needs to understand the tense in this case to identify the type of action.
2. Continuous aspect
The continuous aspect usually describes an ongoing event for a specific time frame (an event that takes place during a limited time period).
The continuous aspect is made up of ‘be’ verb + the -ing form of the main verb.
Note: ‘be’ verbs are – am, is, are, was, were
3. Perfect aspect
The perfect aspect describes events occurred in the past but linked to a later time, usually the present.
The perfect aspect is formed with has, have, or had + V 3 (the past participle).
4. Perfect continuous aspect
The perfect progressive aspect describes to talk about an action that was once ongoing, but is completed.
It is a combination of the perfect and the continuous aspect. That is referring to a past situation or activity that was in progress for a period of time.
The perfect continuous aspect is formed with has, have, or had + been + V ing (the ing form of verb).
PRESENT TENSE
Present Simple Tense
Form
Subject + V1+ object
Use
used for facts, generalizations, and truths that are not affected by the passage of time
Present Continuous Tense
Form
Subject + is/am/are+ v (ing) + object
Use
used to describe currently ongoing (usually temporary) actions.
Present Perfect Tense
Form
Subject + has/have+ v3+ object
Use
used to describe events that began in the past and are expected to continue, or to emphasize the relevance of past events to the present moment
Present Perfect Continuous
Form
Subject + have/has + been + V(ing) + object
Use
used to describe events that started in the past and continue into the present or were recently completed, emphasizing their relevance to the present moment
PAST TENSE
Past Simple Tense
Form
Subject + V2+ object
Use
Used for events completed in the past
Past Continuous Tense
Form
Subject + was/were + v(ing)+ object.
Use
used to describe ongoing past events, often in relation to the occurrence of another event.
Past Perfect Tense
Form
Subject + had + v3+ object.
Use
used to describe events that happened prior to other events in the past
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Form
Subject + had + been + V(ing) + object
Use
used to describe events that began, continued, and ended in the past, emphasizing their relevance to a past moment.
FUTURE TENSE
Future Simple Tense
Form
Subject + will+ v1+ object
Use
used for events to be completed in the future
Future Continuous Tense
Form
Subject+ will+ be+ V(ing)+Object
Use
used to describe future events that are expected to continue over a period of time
Future Perfect Tense
Form
Subject + will+ have +v3+ object.
Use
used to describe events that will be completed between now and a specific point in the future
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
Form
Subject + will + have + been + V(ing) + object.
Use
used to describe events that will continue up until a point in the future, emphasizing their expected duration