Outline

What is a Verb: A SIMPLE Definition State, event, habit, Temporary Tense And Aspect Present Tense (simple and progressive) Past Tense (simple and

Verb
doing words Can express
physical action, a mental action, or; a state of being.

State | Event | Habit

Set of repeated events A single occurrence with definite beginning and end

Continues over a period and does not need to have a welldefined beginning and end

Tense

Tense
Refers to the an inflectional morpheme attached to the verb related to time, e.g. kicks and kicked present and past (DeCapua) Feature of a verbs which tells that actions can occur in the past and present and that this part of speech commonly change in relation to the time an action occurred (Williams) Refers to the absolute location of an

Are you saying that there is no such thing as future tense?

The Case of Future Tense

It is possible to refer to events in future time, but the verb morphology of English does not provide special tense forms for that. Since there is no specific inflection of the verb, we do not refer to a "future tense". There are only two tenses in English: present and past.

Aspect
Determined by whether the action is ongoing or completed. Although all verbs in the past have already happened, aspect is used to emphasize whether the action was on-going or completed at the time. Refers to how an event or action is to be viewed with respect to time, rather than to its actual location in time.

4 Aspects of Verb
Simple / Indefinite Aspect
He took the photos.

Perfective / Complete Aspect

He had taken the photos by the time the owner arrived.

Progressive / Continuing Aspect

He was taking the photos when the owner arrived.

Perfect Progressive Aspect

He had been taking the photos before the

Present Tense

Present State*
(the Simple Present Tense)

The sun is the center of the universe. Water consists of hydrogen and oxygen. I am hungry. / Do you like my hat?

*permanent truth, the present period,

Present Tense

Present Event*
(the Simple Present Tense)

It says here that you are not yet registered. Becker serves to Lendl. I declare the meeting closed.
*observations and declarations, commentaries

Present Tense

Present Habit
(the Simple Present Tense)

Do you drink beer? I get up at 7 in the morning. I sometimes stay up until midnight. I work in two elementary schools.
*habitual actions

Present Tense

Future References
(the Simple Present Tense)

The concert begins at 7:30 next Friday evening. Let us meet at the Sunken Garden tomorrow.

Present Tense

Te m p o r a r y P r e s e n t *
(the Present Progressive) Look! It is snowing. Hes working for the moment. They are living in a rented house.

*actions in progress at the speaking of the moment,

Present Tense

Planned Actions*
(the Present Progressive)

We are spending next winter in Australia. I am going to Boracay this summer.

* + future adverbial reference

Present Tense

Te m p o r a r y H a b i t *
(the Present Progressive)

Hes walking to work while his car is being repaired. Her lover is studying English in Oxford University. I am playing golf regularly these days.

Present Tense

Ongoing Activity
(the Present Progressive)

Were living in a subdivision near the University. The students are watching the match between Heat and Lakers at the Main Library. I am discussing the tenses of verb.

Other Ways of Referring to Present Time

progressive aspect + always or such adverbs
Those children are always getting into trouble.

He is usually eating with his friends during lunch break.

Other Ways of Referring to Present Time

temporary + habitual repetition of temporary
happenings
Hes chewing gum whenever I see him.

I am jogging at the Academic Oval when I meet him again.

Indicators of the Past Tense

a past-time adverbial in the same sentence

Magellan reached the shores of the Philippines in 1521. The parcel arrived last week.

Indicators of the Past Tense

the preceding language context

Joan has become engaged; it took us completely by surprise.

Indicators of the Past Tense

the context outside language

Did you get any letters? How are you? They told me you were ill.

Past Tense

Actions in the Recent or Distant Past

(the Simple Past Tense) Sam phoned a moment ago. The Goths invaded Rome in A.D. 410.

Past Tense

Past Habit / Repeated Action in the Past

(the Simple Past Tense) I smoked forty cigarettes a day til I gave up. I used to collect Pokemon toys when I was a little boy.

Past Tense
Temporary Actions in Progress in the Past
(the Progressive Past Tense) It was raining all night. I was living abroad in 1987.

Past Tense

Actions which were in Progress when Something Happened

(the Progressive Past Tense)
Just as I was leaving the house, the phone rang. David was reading a book in the park when suddenly it began to rain.

Past Tense
Actions in Progress at the Same Time
(the Progressive Past Tense) While I was tending the garden, my wife was cooking dinner. While Jason was studying in one room, his older sister was having a party in the other room.

Past Tense
Repeated Actions with e.g. always, etc.
(the Progressive Past Tense) When I worked here, I was always making mistakes. He was always forgetting to close the door.

Past Tense
Polite Inquiries
(the Progressive Past Tense)
I was wondering if you could lend me your new car for a few hours. I was wondering if you could give me a lift.