Lesson 3: Verbs and Tenses
In 2.1.4, we said almost all verbs change in form based on tense. This is the relation
between verbs and tenses.
3.1
What is Tense?
Tense is a method that we use in English to refer to time - past, present and future.
It is a form of a verb used to indicate the time, and sometimes the continuation or
completeness of an action in relation to the time of speaking.
Some languages have no tenses, but of course they can still talk about time, using
different methods.
In English, we talk about time with verb tenses, with some exceptions:
3.1.1 We can also talk about time without using tenses. For example, (be) going to is
a special construction to talk about the future. It is a verbal phrase, not a tense. Eg.

I am going to go on holiday next month.
3.1.2 One tense does not always talk about one time.
3.1.2.1 Such as a present tense does not always refer to present time, eg.

I hope it rains tomorrow.
(rains is present simple, but it refers here to future time [tomorrow] ).
3.1.2.2 Or a present continuous tense does not always refer to what is happening
exactly now, eg.

Jane is taking her exam next month.
(is taking is present continuous but it refers here to future time [next month] ).
3.1.2.3 Or a past tense does not always refer to past time, eg.

If I had some money now, I could buy it.
(had is past simple but it refers here to present time [now] ).
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3.1.3 There are some terms in English grammar that are used when discussing verbs
and tenses, such as voice (active / passive), mood (interrogative / imperative
/ subjunctive) and aspect. We are not going into details of them except active and
passive voices. The other terms are just ways of describing what we naturally
communicate in English. You may already know how to communicate properly but
may not know that what you do carries a technical term.
3.2 The 12 English Tenses
There are 12 basic tenses in the present, past and future groups.
Present Tense
I do do, I do
Present Continuous Tense
I am doing, I am doing tomorrow
Present Perfect Tense
I have done
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
I have been doing
Past Tense
I did do, I did
Past Continuous Tense
I was doing
Past Perfect Tense
I had done
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
I had been doing
Future Tense
I will do
Future Continuous Tense
I will be doing
Future Perfect Tense
I will have done
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
I will have been doing
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Another 12 tenses are available in the passive voice. So we have 24 tenses in active and
passive voices.
3.3 Conditional Tenses
In addition to the 12 basic tenses, there are the 2 conditional tenses used in the second
conditional sentence and the third conditional sentence.
3.3.1

Present conditional tense (would + base form verb) used in the second
conditional sentence, eg.
If I had a billion dollars, I would quit my job and would do something else.
3.3.2

Perfect conditional tense (would have + past participle) used in the third
conditional sentence, eg.
If I had won the lottery, I would have bought a car.
3.4 Uses of the 12 Tenses*
3.4.1. Simple present tense
We use the simple present tense to talk about:
3.4.1.1 general events that happen all the time, in the past, present and future,
eg.

Sara likes to eat chocolate.
3.4.1.2 personal habits, eg.

She washes her hair every day.
3.4.1.3 group traditions, rituals, customs, eg.

Chinese like to eat moon cakes at Mid-Autumn Festival.
3.4.1.4 the statement that is always true, eg.
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
Triangles have three sides.
3.4.1.5 to give instruction, commands, directions, eg.

Go down the road and turn left.
3.4.1.6 used with future time markers to convey a future sense, eg.

The last train leaves at 9 pm this evening.
3.4.1.7 used in first conditional sentence, eg.

If I make this recipe again, I'll use more brown sugar.
3.4.2. Present continuous tense
Present continuous tense is used to talk about:
3.4.2.1 action happening exactly now, eg.

I am eating my lunch.
3.4.2.2 action happening around now, eg.

John is going out with Mary.
3.4.2.3 action in the future, eg.

I am taking my exam next month.
3.4.3. Present prefect tense
Present perfect tense is used to show a connection of the past and the present. There are
basically three uses for the present perfect tense:
3.4.3.1

experience or action in the past without mentioning time, eg.
I have seen the movie The Godfather.
3.4.3.2 change or action in the past that has an effect in the present, eg.
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
John has broken his hand and he is still wearing a cast.
3.4.3.3

continuing situation (a state that started in the past and continues in the
present, and will probably continue into the future. We usually use for or
since with this structure.), eg.
I have worked here since June.
3.4.4. Present Perfect Continuous
There are basically two uses for the present perfect continuous tense:
3.4.4.1 an action that has lasted some time but has just stopped or recently stopped,
eg.

I'm tired because I've been running.
3.4.4.2 an action continuing up to now, eg.

I have been reading for 2 hours.
We often use for and since with the present perfect continuous tense. Eg.

I have been studying for 3 hours.
I have been watching TV since 7 pm.

3.4.5. Simple Past Tense
We use the simple past tense when:
3.4.5.1 the event is in the past or is completely finished, eg.

I lived in that house when I was young.
3.4.5.2 we say (or understand) the time and/or place of the event, eg.

I watched the movie last year.
3.4.6
Past Continuous Tense
3.4.6.1
we use past continuous tense to say what we were in the middle of doing at
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a particular moment in the past. The action started before that moment but
has not finished at that moment. Eg.

Yesterday I watched a film on TV. The film started at 7 pm and finished at 9 pm.
So at 8 pm, I was in the middle of watching TV.
3.4.6.2

to say what we were doing within a set limit of time in the past, eg.
I was watching TV between 7 and 9 last night.
3.4.6.3
we often use the past continuous tense to “set the scene” in stories. We use
it to describe the background situation at the moment when the action
begins. Often, the story starts with the past continuous tense and then
moves into the simple past tense. Here is an example:

“James Bond was driving through town. It was raining. The wind was blowing
hard. Nobody was walking in the streets. Suddenly, Bond saw the killer in a
telephone box...”
(Mok: another way to do it is to “set the scene”—describing the background
situation at the moment when the action begins with simple past tense, and then
moves into the present tense. As the way used by J.D. Salinger at The Catcher in
the Rye, when Holden describes a movie: “It was about this English guy, Alec
something, that was in the war and loses his memory in the hospital and all. He
comes out of the hospital…” (pp. 138-139))
3.4.6.4 Past Continuous Tense + Simple Past Tense
We often use the past continuous tense with the simple past tense. We use
the past continuous tense to express a longer action, and we use the simple
past tense to express a shorter action that happens in the middle of the
longer action. We can join the two ideas with when or while. Eg:

I was watching TV when you telephoned.
3.4.7. Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense is used:
3.4.7.1 to express action in the past before another action in the past. This is the
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past in the past. Eg.

The train left at 9 am. We arrived at 9.15 am. So when we arrived, the train had
left.
3.4.7.2 in reported speech after verbs like said, told, asked, thought, wondered, etc.
This is also the past in the past. Eg.

He told us that the train had left.

I thought I had met her before, but I was wrong.

He explained that he had closed the window because of the rain.
I wondered if I had been there before.
I asked them why they had not finished.


3.4.8 Past Perfect Continuous Tense
The past perfect continuous tense is like the past perfect tense, but it expresses longer
actions in the past before another action in the past. Eg.

Ronald started waiting at 9 am. I arrived at 11 am. So when I arrived, Ronald had
been waiting for two hours.
3.4.9 Simple Future Tense
Simple future tense is used for:
3.4.9.1 prediction or action that happens in the future, eg.


It will rain tomorrow.
People won't go to Jupiter before the 22nd century.
3.4.9.2 when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak. We
make the decision spontaneously at the time of speaking. Eg.


Hold on. I'll get a pen.
We will see what we can do to help you.
3.4.9.3 when the main verb is “be,” even if we have a firm plan or decision before
speaking. Eg.
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

I'll be in London tomorrow.
I'm going shopping. I won't be very long.
3.4.9.4 when writing with the verb “think.” Eg.


I think I'll go to the gym tomorrow.
I think I will have a holiday next year.
3.4.10. Future Continuous Tense
3.4.10.1

The future continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the
future. The action will start before that moment but it will not have
finished at that moment. Eg.
Tomorrow I will start work at 2 pm and stop work at 6 pm, so at 4 pm tomorrow, I
will be working.
3.4.10.2

to say what we will be doing within a set limit of time in the future. Eg.
I will be working between 2 and 6 tomorrow.
3.4.11. Future Perfect Tense
The future perfect tense expresses action in the future before another action in the
future. This is the past in the future. Eg.

The train will leave the station at 9 am. You will arrive at the station at 9.15 am.
When you arrive, the train will have left.
3.4.12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
We use the future perfect continuous tense to talk about a long action before some
point in the future. Eg.

I will have been working here for ten years next week
* 3.4 is adapted from http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs.htm.
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3.5 Differences between Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect Tense**
The past simple tense
The past simple tense may describe
completed activities and past
situations.

In 1976, 60% of families

were couples with children.
In 1981, 34% of children
The present perfect tense
The present perfect tense may describe
activities or situations which began in the past
and are still continuing.

The number of one-person households

has grown.
Over the past twenty years, the average
size of households has fallen.
aged 20-24 lived with their
parents.
The past simple may describe
activities without linking them to the
present.


They completed the research
in 1972.
They arrived yesterday.
With past simple verbs, the time
may be specified.



They completed the research
in 1972.
They arrived yesterday.
The number of one-person
households grew last year.
The present perfect may describe completed
activities whose impact is felt in the present.

They have completed the research.
(meaning: a short time ago; here it is).

They have arrived. (meaning: a short
time ago; here they are).
With present perfect verbs, indefinite time
expressions may be used.



They have just completed the research.
They have already arrived.
The number of one-person households
has grown recently.
** 3.5 is adapted from http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/grammar/tense/2.4.xml.
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