Verb Tenses

Each of the twelve tenses has what might be called a primary meaning, but each one actually has multiple meanings.  The exercise above helps zero in on the primary meaning of the tenses.  The names of the tenses also can help remember the primary meanings.  First, the time frame is named in the tense name: past, present, or future.  Second, the aspect name usually helps, too. A simple tense just locates an action within a period of time, the simple past locates an action within the time period of the past, and the simple future locates an action within the time period of the future.  Oddly, the simple present is a bit of an exception.  The simple present can locate an action within the present period of time, but this is not its primary meaning; it is a secondary meaning.  The simple present’s primary meaning is a habitual action in the present time.

The progressive aspect is used to mark an action that is in progress at a certain point within a specified time frame.  The present progressive refers to an action that is in progress at a certain moment in the present: the moment of speaking.  An example is I am typing on my computer.  The past progressive refers to an action that was in progress at a certain moment in the past, for example, I was watching the news at 10:15 last night.  And, of course, the future progressive refers to an action that will be in progress at a certain moment in the future, for example, I will be teaching at 10:00 tomorrow morning.

The perfect aspect marks an action that was completed prior to a certain moment in a specified time frame.  The word perfect comes from Latin, where the prefix per can mean throughout or thoroughly, and fect means done.  So, literally, something that is perfect is thoroughly done or completely done.  In this way, the present perfect refers to something that was completed prior to a certain point in the present, again the moment of speaking, so I have eaten means I completed the action of eating prior to the present moment.  The past perfect refers to an action completed prior to a certain moment in the past, as in I had eaten breakfast by 8:00 yesterday to mean I completed the action of eating before 8:00 yesterday.  And, finally, the future perfect refers to an action that is completed prior to a certain moment in the future, such as, I will have eaten lunch by 1:00 tomorrow afternoon, which means I will complete the action of eating prior to 1:00 tomorrow afternoon.

One of the toughest tenses to explain is the tense where both progressive aspect and perfect aspect are combined.  How can something be completed prior to a certain point and be in progress at that same point?  Clearly, the combination of the two isn’t a sum of the two parts.  Rather, the perfect aspect here indicates that the action occurred before a certain point and the involvement in that activity has an continued influence upon the moment in question (so it is the influence that is in progress, not necessarily the action itself), and may or may not continue beyond that moment.  The present perfect progressive means the action began before the present moment, still influences it, and may or may not continue beyond it.  So I have been eating Cheetoes means that my eating Cheetoes occurred before the present moment, and that the food or the activity of eating is important to the present moment (perhaps to explain orange fingers), and I may or may not continue eating Cheetoes beyond this moment.  The past perfect progressive means the action occurred before a certain moment in the past, had influence upon that moment, and may or may not have continued beyond that moment.  So I had been eating Cheetoes when I went in for my interview means that I began to eat Cheetoes before the interview, and that the food or the action of eating influenced the interview in some way (perhaps I had orange fingers, a bad influence, or perhaps my stomach didn’t growl, a good thing), and I may or may not have continued eating the Cheetoes beyond the time of the interview.  Finally, the future perfect progressive means that an action will occur before a certain future moment, have an influence on that moment, and may or may not continue beyond that moment.  So I will have been eating Cheetoes when you pick me up indicates that my eating Cheetoes will occur before you pick me up and will influence that moment, possibly to indicate I won’t be hungry enough for a meal, and may or may not continue beyond that moment.

Review the sentences in Activity 6:2 again to see if these primary meanings fit the example sentences and help explain the answers you gave.  Next, look at the time lines in the reference section at the end of the chapter to see how these meanings can be represented visually.  Unfortunately, the verb tenses in English have more than just one meaning.  It is necessary to teach more than just the primary meaning to ESL students.  Look at the meaning chart following the active indicative reference charts to see the various meanings that are attached to each verb tense.  Follow the directions of activity 6.3 to understand some of the secondary meaning.

Activity 6.3: Understanding Multiple Verb Meanings

Use the verb tense charts, both the meaning chart and the active indicative form charts to complete the following exercise.

  First, click on complete verbs and on the subjects in these sentences. Verbs will turn blue, subjects green. When all the verb and subjects words are selected, text boxes will appear below the sentences. Type name of the tense and the meaning of the tense for each verb in the appropriate box. Assess the answer with the Check button.

Use the reference materials for meanings. Complete statements of tense meanings from the charts are not necessary. Check button assessment is based on specific key words taken from the preferred answer.

Tenses Page 3