16 TENSES
Chapter I 

    

    If you are a non-native English speaker and your first language don’t have a “tense” concept, then you might wonder what are tenses? Simply, tense is a form that we needed to imply the “timeline” of action that will be stated in the sentence. Then, is it really matter to learn tenses? As a student, I would say yes. Why? Because tenses really live your words. I mean, in tenses we will give the audience so much information in only a sentence. It also gives them an “imagination” of actions happened in that moment. However, you don't have to be too worried in using wrong tense in speaking. Because even a native speaker won’t really care about the tense when they spoke. Just remember, it does a matter in writing context. It needs dedication to learn and use it carefully. So, we will break it down by the time phase. Take your time and hope it helps!

A. Present Tense

1.      Simple Present Tense

Verbal: (1) Subject (I, you, they, we) + Verb 1 + e/es + Object

(2) Subject (She, he, it) + Verb 1/infinitive + Object

Example: The sun rises in the East.

She always goes to work at 07:00 AM in the morning.

 

Nominal: Subject + to be (is/am/are) + object

Example: We are human beings.

 

Functions:

a.      To state a habit.

b.     To state general truth.

 

Important notes!

a.     If the sentence using “she, he, it” the verb or called “infinitive” will get additional “e/es” in the end of the word. (see verbal (2)).

b.   The infinitive should not change if we use modal verb (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, do, does, did).

Example: He can speak 5 different languages.

 

2.     Present Continuous Tense

Verbal: Subject + to be (is/am/are) + Present participle (ing-form)

Example: They are working on the same project.

Functions:

a.      To state on going activities

b.     To state a temporary action.

c.      To talk about today’s event.

 

3. Present Perfect Tense

    (Things will go a bit complicated, but you’ll survive)

Verbal: I/you/they/we + have + past participle

She/he/it + has + past participle

Example: I have heard that before.

 

Other form: Subject + have/has + been + object

Example: It has been a year.

 

Other form: Subject + have/has + verb III + object

Example: They have rebuilt the machine.

 

Functions:

a.      Used to state an event in the past and still related to t present.

b.     Stating an already happened event.

c.      Deliver repeated action in unpredictable time before the very present time. Usually used “before, already, never”.

d.     To show in short time completed action. Usually using “at last, finally, just, recently.

 

4.     Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Verbal: I/you/they/we + have + been + present participle

She/he/it + has + been + present participle

Example: He has been waiting.

 

Other form: I/you/they/we + have + been + ing-form + object

She/he/it + has + been + ing-form + object

Example: My parents have been staying there since 2019.

Function:

Used to deliver past action that still presently happen and the action has been started in past time but still continues in now.

You can see this video below to enrich your understanding over present tense:

Reference: Hewings, Martin. 2013. Advance Grammar in Use. Cambridge University Press.