TensesTo report an event rightly in English we have to know that verb in English always changes in accordance with the time in which the event happens. The change of verb is called tenses.

Tense indicators/aspectChart 1

TenseIndicatorUse 1. PastVerb 2Past events2. PresentVerb 1Present events3. FutureWill + Verb infinitiveNext time events4. ContinuousTo be

+ Verb - ingContinuing events5. Perfect Has/have + Verb 3Past events related to present time

Chart 2

Time Past Present Future Aspect example example example

Simple Studied Study/studies Will studyContinuous Was/were being Am/is/are studying Will be studying

Perfect Had studied Has/have studied Will have studiedPerfect continuous Had been studied Has/have been studying Will have been studying

From the time aspect we can generate the following tensesPresent tense

Simple Present tense Study/studiesPresent continuous Am/is/are studyingPresent perfect Has/have studiedPresent perfect continuous Has/have been studying

Past tense

Simple past tense StudiedPast continuous Was/were studyingPast perfect Had studiedPast perfect continuous Had been studying

Future tense

Simple future tense Will studyFuture continuous Will be studyingFuture perfect Will have studiedFuture perfect continuous Will have been studying

Don’t be panic! Some English sentence constructions are the same as Indonesian construction, especially in simple present and future. Look at the following examples:

Saya makan nasi I eat riceSaya akan makan nasi I will eat riceSaya pergi ke kampus I go to campusSaya pergi ke kampus setiap hari I go to campus everyday

In the examples above all Indonesian words can be exactly translated into English. It is simple, isn’t it?

The use of tense.The following diagram may be able to help you understand the use of tense in more detail:

Habits She types everydayA. Simple present

Fact water boils at 100 Celsius degrees.

Temporary He is typing letters because his secretary is on leave.

B. Present ContinuousIn progress The water is boiling. Can you turn

the stove off?

C. Present perfect simple Result He has typed three letters so far this morning.

In progress She has been typing letters all morning

D. Present perfect Continuousy he has been writing three letters

this morning so he is tired now.

Present simple Vs Present Continuous

Simple present Present continuousHabits Facts Temporary In progressShe types everyday Water boils at 100

Celsius degrees.He is typing letters because his secretary is on leave

The water is boiling. Can you … the stove off?

Habits He goes to work everydayE. Simple present

Fact Iron is solid

Temporary He is typing letters because his secretary is on leave

F. Present ContinuousIn progress The water is boiling. Can you turn

off the stove?

Recently stopped

1. He doesn’t understand English

(not: he is understanding English)2. I

think he is a good student (think means believe) But I am thinking about him (think describes an ongoing action or process)

The soup tastes delicious. (not: the soup is tasting delicious)

1. The car belongs to me (not: The car is belonging to me)

2. Do you have a car? ( not: Are you having a car?)

I need a car (not; I am needing a car)

Do you like pizza? (not: Are you liking pizza?)

Mental state

Emotion

Possession

Senses

Wants

ThinkBelieveSupposeRealizeRememberForgetKnowUnderstand

SeeHearTasteFeelSmell

BelongHaveOwnPossess

WantNeedPrefer

Like Love Hate

Stative verbs

Present Perfect Simple Vs Present Perfect Continuous

1. Present perfect simple

She has typed three letters so far this morning.

Three letters have been written

she has been typing letter all morning

2. Present perfect Continuous

He has been typing letters all morning so he needs to get rest by reading newspaper.

Have/has + V3 Result

In progress

Recently stopped

Has/have + Ving

Past tense overview

She typed a letter last night

A. Simple past

When I came, she typed the letter

When I came she was typing a letter.

B. Past Continuous

When I was swimming she was typing letters

C. Pas perfect When I came e had typed three letters.

Past perfect continuous She had been typing for two hours when I came.

Verb –ed/irregular

Was/were + Ving

Had + V3

One thing happened after another

Started and finish in the past

Interrupted past

Two actions in progress at the same time in the past

An even happened earlier than a past event

Had been + V ing

Recently had stopped before a past event

Future tense overview

Will and to be going toIt will rain tomorrow

I’ll get it

It’s going to rain

He is going to paint his house

A. Simple Future

Will + V0

To be going to + Vo

Prediction

Spontaneity

Evidence

Decision