13 74, the grammatical category of tense is related to real-world time. Time is
divided into past, present and future. According to Asher 1994: 4558, there are two important aspects of tenses. First, from a formal point of view, tense is a
grammatical category expressed overtly on the verb. Second, from a semantic point of view, tense serves to locate situations in time. This study not only focuses
on the form but also on the use of the tenses. According to Curme 1931: 354, there are four absolute tenses. They are present, past, perfect, and future, which
express time from the moment in which speaker is speaking without reference to some other acts. Celce-Murcia 1999: 110 divides tense into four aspects. They
are simple which is called zero aspect, perfect, progressive, and their combination, perfect progressive. Based on some definitions above, the tenses used in the study
are based on the syllabus used by English Language Education Study Program. They are past, present, future which have the combination of four aspects. The
study focuses on ten tenses which are presented as follows.
a. Simple Present Tense
Azar 1985: 3 explains the formulations of the simple present tense. The formulation is presented in Figure 2.1.
14
Statement affirmative
I You work
We They
He She works
It If the subject is the third
person singular e.g. he, she, it, John, the animal,
the verb is added by a final
–s or –es
Negative I
We do not You don‟t
They work He does not
She doesn‟t It work
Do not add final –s or –es
to the main verb e.g. work in negative sentence
Questions I
Do we work? you
they he
Does she work? it
Do not add a final –s or –
es to the main verb in a question.
Short answer
I Yes, you do
we they
he Yes, she does
It
I No, y
ou don‟t we
they he
No, s he doesn‟t
It
Figure 2.1: The Summary of Formulations of the Simple Present Tense
In the formulation of simple present tense, the –s -es adding is used for
the third person singular, such as he, she, and it. There are some rules in the spelling of verbs used for the third person singular. Azar 1992: 8 explains the
rules as follows: a Final
–s, is added to most verbs For example:
visit-visits speak-speaks
answer-answers happen-happens
15 b Final
–es is added in the verbs ending with –ch, -sh, -s, -x, or –z For example:
watch – watches
wash – washes
pass – passes
fix – fixes
buzz - buzzes c Final
–es is also added to do and go For example:
go – goes
do – does
d Many verbs end in –e. Final –s is simply added
For example: Hope-hopes
Write-writes e If the word ends in a consonant
–y. Change the –y to –i and add –es. For example:
study - studies fly - flies
try – tries
f If the word ends in a consonant –y and it is preceded by a vowel, simply
add –s.
For example: PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
16 say - says
pay - pays buy
– buys
According to Azar 1989: 11, simple present tense has several functions. First, it expresses general statements of facts. It means that simple present tense
expresses something that was true in the past, is true in the present, and will be true in the future. It also refers to events, actions or situations which are true in
present period of time and may continue indefinitely Alexander, 1988: 163. Second, it is used to express habitual or every day activity. Third, certain common
verbs are not used in progressive tense, with these verbs may indicate a situation that exists right now, at the moment of speaking. The examples are:
[1] It snows in Alaska. Azar, 1989: 2 = It expresses a fact or general truth. [2] I watch television every day. Azar, 1989: 2 = It expresses a habitual action.
[3] I don‟t recognize that man. Azar, 1989: 11 = simple present that may
indicate a situation that exists right now, at the moment of speaking.
b. Present Progressive Tense Generally, present progressive tense is used for action in progress at the time
of the speaking. According to Corder 1960: 74, present progressive may be used without any adverbs of time because what is happening at the time of speaking is
an evident that does not need an explanation. The adverbs that are sometimes used in this tense are now, at present, at this moment, and still.
17 The forms of the present progressive tense according to Azar 1985: 4 are
presented in Figure 2.2.
STATEMENT I am working
He She is working
It You
We are working They
NEGATIVE I am not working
He She is not isn‟t
It working You
We are not aren‟t
They working QUESTION
Am I working? he
Is she working? It
you Are we working?
they
SHORT ANSWER
Yes, I am No, I‟m not
he Yes, she is
it he
No,
she isn‟t It
you Yes, we are
It he
No, she aren‟t it
Figure 2.2: The Summary of Formulations of the Present Progressive Tense
In present progressive form, a sentence needs be as auxiliary verb. Present forms of Be are: am, is, are. They are followed by verb
–ing. The examples of present progressive tense are:
[4] I am not wearing a coat as it isn‟t cold. Thomson and Martinet, 1986:
154 [5] John is trying to improve his work habits. Azar, 1989: 11
[6] He is always leaving his dirty dishes on the table Azar, 1989: 16 Present progressive tense has some functions. First, it expresses an activity
that is in progress, that is occurring, is happening, right now. Sentence [4] is an example of this situation. The event began in the past, is in progress now, and will
18 probably continue into the future. Second, it is often to express the activity of a
general nature: something generally in progress this week, this month, this year. Sentence [5] may show a general nature activity. It may mean that trying to
improve his work habit is a general activity he is engaged in at present, but it does not mean that it happens at the moment of speaking. Third, the adverbs such as
always, forever and constantly are used with the present progressive to express annoyance or anger. Sentence [6] is the example of an action that expresses
annoyance or anger. There are some common verbs which are not used in the progressive tense
Azar, 1989: 13. Although they may be used for describing an action at the moment of speaking, simple present is used. Some common verbs which are not
used in progressive tense are described in Figure 2.3.
Mental State know imagine
realize doubt understand remember
recognize forget believe want
feel need suppose prefer
think mean
Emotional State love fear dislike
like envy care appreciate mind hate
Possession possess own
have belong Sense Perceptions
taste feel smell see
hear
Other Existing States seem be
look exist appear consist of
cost contain owe include
weigh
The verbs with an asterisk are also commonly used as progressive verbs, with a difference in meaning
.
Figure 2.3: Non-Progressive Tense Verbs
19
c. Simple Past Tense
