Time, Tense and Aspect in English Outlining verb phrase constructions and uses

Introduction

Aspect Can indicate time Gives info about speaker’s attitude towards events Simple: Usually uses only the lexical verb Does not indicate time Perfect : Uses the auxiliary verb ‘to have’ Used to indicate: Completed actions relevant to another point in time Continuous/progressive : Uses auxiliary verb ‘to be’ Used to indicate: Actions that continue over a period of time

Present Tense – An Overview

Present Simple at the pub live Lesley, Mary and Jo Formation Present form of lexical verb Uses Used for actions, states and thoughts No particular reference to time Uses Used for actions, states and thoughts No particular reference to time

Present Continuous are drinking in the pub Formation Present form of verb ‘to be’ + -ing participle of lexical verb Uses Actions happening now Actions continuing into present Arrangements Uses Actions happening now Actions continuing into present Arrangements

Present Perfect Lesley, Mary and Jo have drunk all of the wine Formation Present form of ‘to have’ + past participle of lexical verb Uses Past actions relevant to present Incomplete actions continuing into present Giving news Uses Past actions relevant to present Incomplete actions continuing into present Giving news

Present Perfect Continuous Lesley, Mary and Jo have been dancing on the tables Formation Present form of ‘to have’ + past participle of ‘to be’ + -ing form of lexical verb Uses Repeated or continuous actions relevant to present Uses Repeated or continuous actions relevant to present

Past tense – An Overview

Past Simple Lesley, Mary and Jo liked this pub Formation Past form of lexical verb Uses Finished actions in past Repeated actions in past Telling stories Uses Finished actions in past Repeated actions in past Telling stories

Past Continuous Because they were enjoying themselves Formation Past form of ‘to be’ + -ing form of lexical verb Uses Continuing actions in past Temporary situation in past Plans that didn’t happen Setting the scene for a past event Uses Continuing actions in past Temporary situation in past Plans that didn’t happen Setting the scene for a past event

Past Perfect They had perfected their dance moves Formation Past form of ‘to have’ + -ed form of lexical verb Uses Referring to an earlier action in the past Giving reasons for past actions or feelings Uses Referring to an earlier action in the past Giving reasons for past actions or feelings

Past Perfect Continuous As they had been drinking in there after every RES lecture Perfected our dance moves Formation Past form of ‘to have’ + -ed form of ‘to be’ + -ing form of lexical verb Uses Continuing past action before another action in the past Uses Continuing past action before another action in the past

Future Time – An Overview

Future Simple We will be happy because… Formation Will or shall + bare infinitive of lexical verb Uses Predictions Decisions or offers Conditional and time clauses Uses Predictions Decisions or offers Conditional and time clauses

Future Continuous We will be going to the pub after this presentation Formation Will or shall + bare infinitive of ‘to be’ + -ing form of lexical verb Uses Actions and events in progress at a time in the future Uses Actions and events in progress at a time in the future

Future Perfect We will have changed Next semester to a different pub by next semester Formation Will or shall + bare infinitive form of ‘to be’ + -ed form of lexical verb Uses Events finished by a point of time in future Referring to past from point in future Usually used with time phrases Uses Events finished by a point of time in future Referring to past from point in future Usually used with time phrases

Future Perfect Continuous As we will have been annoying the bar staff for too long Formation will/shall + bare infinitive form of ‘to have’ + -ed form of ‘to be’ + -ing form of lexical verb Uses Stresses duration of action up to a time in future Uses Stresses duration of action up to a time in future Change pubs

Before we go: A note on using the present tense to express future time

Summary

References Seely, J., Oxford A-Z of Grammar and Punctuation. 2 nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press Biber, D., Conrad, S., Leech, G., Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited Carter, R., McCarthy, M., Mark, G., O’Keeffe, A., English Grammar Today: An A-Z of Spoken and Written Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press