VERB FORMS AND TIME REFERENCES

1. WHEN THE PLAIN PRESENT & 3RD PERSON SINGULAR –S FORMS ARE USED
• Present: timeless states (stative verbs) – verbs of being, general truths, Margaret
is tall
• present -repeated or habitual events, routines – He works at night
• - instantaneous events in present – performatives, commentaries, demonstratives –
I resign
• HEADLINES - Merkel announces tax cuts.
• HISTORIC Present - Historic present – He was only an average golfer and then he
suddenly wins two tournaments in a row
• REPORTING /COMMUNICATION VERBS - In reporting information –use of
present implies that the info is valid though the report was made in the past. “The
weatherman forecasts heavy showers in Paderborn”
• FUTURE EVENTS (CERTAINITY) - with time-position adverbials - The plane
leaves for Istanbul at 9pm tonight

2. WHEN PRETERITE FORMS ARE USED

• Remoteness and distancing from the moment of speaking, 2 semantic features : the
specific event occurred (and completed) at some specific time in the past; and, a gap
of time separates its completion from the present.

• PAST EVENT - single event, dynamic verbs

• HABITUAL PAST - We spent our holidays in Greece when I was a child
• Past STATE - I once liked reading crime fiction
• SPECIAL USES - Can have present and future reference in –
Reported /INDIRECT speech or thought – because of backshifting past tense is
used, but meanings may be in non-past – she said she would be glad to meet us
• ATTITUDINAL PAST - In polite requests and enquiries- Did you want to
sopeak to me?
• HYPOTHETICAL PAST - In hypothetical subordinate clauses -If you knew
him, you wouldn't say that

A (CONTRAST Past vs pres. Perfect – incomplete event, connected to present)

• Adjuncts of past combine well with past but not with pres perfect
• Past definite – does not require time specification – I once knew a dancer from the
Bolshoi ballet

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 B. COMPARISON : BACKGROUND Information - specific acts, events, old focus,
settings - PAST TENSE; FOREGROUND Information - general statements, facts,
new focus, changes - present tense

Plain Present Preterite

STATE General truths, facts /states of being dynamic verbs - in past
Margaret is tall Margaret went home
HABIT Repeated events- regular basis (no end in Repeated events- in definite past
sight) We went to Greece every year ( as
We go to Greece every year. children)
points in time INSTANTANEOUS PRESENT- PAST EVENT
directions, etc. single event
Go down that road I once liked reading crime fiction
Meanings with HISTORIC -/Dramatic / narrative ATTITUDINAL PAST –
other time present present or future meaning
points He was only an average golfer and then Did you want to speak to me?
he suddenly wins two tournaments in a
row.
REPORTING Performative verbs – present relevance back-shifting- present or future
/COMMUNI- I apologise. meaning
CATION She said she would be glad to meet
VERBS – Merkel announces tax cuts. us.
FUTURE FUTURE EVENTS (Certainity) HYPOTHETICAL PAST – present or
REFERENCE The plane leaves for Istanbul at 9pm future meaning
tonight If you knew him, you wouldn't say
that

3. HOW FUTURE MEANING IS EXPRESSED IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Form Meaning Example

Will / shall + Neutral He will be here in half an
infinitive hour
Be going to Future fulfilment of the Martha is going to lend me
present her camera
Be going to Future result of present She's going to have a baby
cause

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Is V+ing Future arising from I'm taking the children to
present arrangement, the zoo tomorrow
plan or programme
Simple present In main clauses : very The train leaves at nine
high certainity; in sub- tonight
clauses-possible future
scenarios
Will/shall + Be+ Future period of time When you reach the bridge,
V-ing within which another I'll be waiting there to
situation occurs show you the way.
Will/shall + Be+ Future as a matter of We'll be arriving in
V-ing course Dortmund at 7 pm
Be to Future arrangement, plan, Their daughter is to be
requirement, intention married soon.
Be about to Near future The train is about to leave
Were going to Unfulfilled intention You were going to give me
your address
WAS/WERE Arrangement pre- I was meeting him in
V+ing determined in the past Paderborn the next day.
Was/Were to was destined to He was eventually to end
INF up in the bankruptcy court
Was/Were to arrangement The meeting was to be
INF held the next day
Was/were "on the point of" He was about to hit me.
about to +INF