Discover_verb Tense & Aspect Flashcards
How to tell what time or tense a verb is in ?
Check the auxiliary
(To have, to be and to do)
It indicate time in a verb phrase. If the verb phrase has more than one auxiliary, the first auxiliary indicates time.
Tell if it’s past, present or future ?
1- I have been working for the Banq of Montreal for 17 years.
2- We were running for the bus when it started to rain.
1- have : present
2- were : past
What is the aspect of a verb ?
What are the three forms ?
Simple, continuous/progressive or perfect
To describe the action in relation to TIME - the degree of PROGRESS or COMPLETION of an action
Complete the sentence :
Simple Aspect is used for actions which are seen as p**, c, h** or f****
Permanent
Complete
Habitual
Factual
Ex : people greet each other in different ways around the world (permanent, fact)
Jocelyne greeted her classmates on the discussion forum (permanent, complete)
Complete the sentence :
Continuous Aspect is used for actions which are seen as o*gng at a certain point in time. Because it is “ac**”, it can only be used with verbs which also express action. The continuous aspect implies that the action may be temporary, may change.
Ongoing
Active
Ex : Vlad is working on his English grammar. (This is ongoing, current - it is a temporary action, not a permanent action)
Complete :
Jacinthe (to do) her homework when the baby (to wake up).
Was doing : continuous aspect
Woke up : simple past
The action was ongoing in the past when it was interrupted by another action, so the other action is expressed in the SIMPLE PAST.
Complete (past) :
While jasmine (to do) her homework, Jane (to make) supper.
Was doing
Was making
If there are two simultaneous actions, both will be in the last continuous.
Complete :
Perfect Aspect is used to r* t t** together and to express a f*** action.
Relate two times together
Finished action
The present perfect relates the present to the …
I … (to have) never … (to meet m) anyone from Sudan.
Past!
Have / met : this time period started the day the speaker was born and finished today.
The past perfect relates two ** **, showing a time relationship in which one **** *** preceded the other in the past.
I … (to eat) all the bread by the time dinner was served. (The bread was finished before dinner was served)
Past actions
Past action
Had eaten
Note: the past perfect is used only when the time relationship is important. For a sequence of past actions, it is common to use the simple past.
The future perfect relates two ** ***, showing a time relationship in which one action will have happened before another in the future.
By the time you arrive, we … (to finish) dinner.
Two future actions
We will have finished (Dinner will be finished before “you” arrive.)
Note: “By the time you arrive : the verb is in the simple present tense (temps).
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
I have worked at Daniel Lachance for 7 years.
I have been working at Daniel Lachance for 7 years.
I will have worked at Daniel Lachance for 7 years by the time I retire.
I will have been working at Daniel Lachance for 7 years by the time I retire.
The perfect continuous form adds the feeling that the action is ongoing. The focus is on
the continuity of the action.
However, in many cases, the perfect form and the perfect continuous are interchangeable.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
I work at McGill. / I am working at McGill (this year).
I will travel for work (soon). / I will be travelling for work (next week).
Using the continuous gives the feeling (or aspect) that the action is, or will be, in progress at a certain
time.
It also denotes that it may be temporary (this year but maybe not next year).
However, in many cases the simple present or simple future and the simple present continuous or simple
future continuous are interchangeable.
When writing, do we stay within one tense or aspect?
It is the aspect (simple,
continuous, perfect) that changes. You only change the tense if you need to express a time change, and this shift in time must be very clear to the reader.
Why is it important to identify the verbs in your writing?
- Verb tense consistency: Generally, writing stays in one time unless there is a specific reason for a change. When editing, identify the primary time focus of your writing and see if all the verbs remain in the same tense (present, past or future).
- Agreement: Verbs must agree with their subject in person and number. This agreement happens in simple sentences and in compound and complex sentences, meaning all the verbs in each clause (dependent or independent), must agree with their subject.
