TENSES

English for Science

-Erni Yulianti, S.P., M.Pd-
• When writing, it is important to be consistent in verb tense usage.

• There are three basic forms of verb tenses: past, present, and future.
Simple and Perfect forms of these verbs are also used.

o The simple form of a verb demonstrates an action that has a specific

time duration.
• The action has occurred, is going on now, or will happen in the future.

o The perfect form of a verb is used to show variations in time.

• These variations include ongoing events, a sequence of events, or
events that have a continued effect on a situation.
• Perfect tenses include the past, present, or future form of “have” plus
the past tense form of the verb.
 The Simple Past
The simple past is used to describe actions
and/or events that are now completed and no
longer true in the present.

I attended the Raisa’s concert in 2016. (I no longer

attend Raisa’s concert.)
I saw a movie every weekend when I was a
teenager. (I don’t see movies very much
anymore.)
 The Simple Past
We use the simple past to indicate exactly
when an action or event took place in the past.

I visited my sister yesterday.

We went out to dinner last night.
Formula:

S + V2
S V Averb
My father arrived last night
We ate in the cafetaria this morning
She went to Jakarta every month in 2006
 The Present Perfect
The present perfect is used to talk about an
event that began in the past and continues up
to the present.

He has lived in Malang for two years.

(He began living in Malang two years ago and he still lives
there.)
 The Present Perfect
The present perfect is also used to talk
about an event that was completed in the past,
but the specific time of the event is not
important.

I have seen that movie before.

He has already visited Vietnam.
(Specific dates and times are not mentioned.)
Formula:

S + have/has + V3
S Have/has + V3 Object
I have done my homework
He has read the book
I have just arrived
She has known me for two years
 TIME

FINISHED UNFINISHED
Simple Past Present Perfect
I worked hard I have worked hard
-> yesterday -> this week
-> last week -> this semester
-> last month -> since January
-> since 6am