Grammar

ENGLISH TENSES – OVERVIEW

While discussing English tenses, as well as those in any other language,  it is extremely important to explain the relations between TIME and TENSE, as well as to emphasize the crucial difference between the two concepts: the one of time (extra linguistic),  and the strictly linguistic one – the concept of tense.

Time, being an extra linguistic concept, and existing independently in the universe, encompasses three, more or less distinct, segments or categories: past, present and future. On the other hand, the tenses are considered to be a strictly linguistic concept, i.e. verb forms used to express actions, events, or states occurring in time.

This becomes particularly important in view of the fact that in English, as indeed is the case with some other languages, there is no strict or unambiguous correspondence between time and tense: a present tense may be used to express actions happening in the future and past time.

The Simple Present Tense

Form:

The Simple Present Tense, as its name clearly implies,  is formed of only one element, i.e. of the base form of the verb, with the addition of the ending –s or inflectional suffix (following a vowel) or –es (following a consonant) in the third person singular.

In order to express the negative form, a special auxiliary verb do is used: does not / doesn’t for third person singular and do not / don’t for the remaining persons, either singular or plural.   

As far as the interrogative form is concerned, the same verb forms of do are used (i.e. the auxiliary verb do functioning as the operator), following the word order of to do + subject + main verb (inversion of the verb).

Use:

The most common use of the tense is to express the present state of affairs or a general fact.

present state: He likes sailing.

general fact: The water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

                    Zagreb lies on the River Sava.

Another typical usage of the Present Simple concerns routines and habits, things that occur repeatedly. Time expressions used relating to this particular usage are often, seldom, always, usually, frequently, sometimes, every day/week/month/year; ever (never), etc., sometimes also referred to as adverbs of frequency:

He always drives to work.

The Present Progressive / Continuous Tense

Form:

The Present Continuous (or Progressive) relates to the imperfective aspect and is complex in its essence, i.e. formed of two elements: the present tense of the verb to be + -ing form (the present participle of the main verb).

Use:

The main uses relate to the present action that is in progress in the immediate present, the so-called instantaneous present. Typical time expressions are thus: now, at the moment, still, just, etc:

The train is leaving the Victoria Station now.

The action does not need to be in progress at the exact moment of speaking: it can be occurring “around now”, i.e. it could have begun but is not completed yet:

I am reading an interesting story at the moment.  (i.e. I was reading it yesterday,  I have not finished yet, and I will continue reading it later).

Permanent vs. temporary

The main contrast between the two tenses discussed above concerns the difference between permanent routines (Present Simple) and temporary routines (Present Continuous):

He travels to work by car (permanent), but his car has broken down, so he is travelling to work by train this week. (temporary)

Expressing annoyance

The Present Progressive can be used in order to express annoyance or irritation on the part of the speaker concerning someone’s behaviour. The time expression always is typically added:

He is always arriving late.

Future time

Both Present Simple and Progressive can refer to the future time. The Present Simple verb form can thus express an action that has been arranged and is due to happen because of the fixed schedule or timetable:

The train leaves for London at 11 o’clock this evening.

Meanwhile, the Present Progressive expresses an action that will occur because of the arrangements among people, i.e. expresses personal plans:

Ann is eating at the restaurant with her husband this evening. (They have previously arranged to do so.)

Historical present

Although past actions are usually narrated using the past verb forms, present tenses (both simple and progressive) are sometimes used in order to make the action or the story plot more immediate and more vivid to the listener or reader: