situation which relates to the situation of the utterance or relates the content of the message to the speaker in items of the “here and now”, it can be described
as “deictic”
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According to Sylva Chalker “Tense is a form taken by a verb to indicate the time at which the action or state is viewed as according.
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In talking about tense, it is not only focused on the time of the situation that is being described,
but also focused on English mark tense. From the preceded description, tense can be defined as “a way of language
to express the time at which an event described by a sentence occurs. The English Tenses that would be discussed are: 1. Simple Present, 2.
Present continuous, 3.Present perfect, 4.Simple past, 5. Past continuous, 6. Simple future.
1. Simple Present Tense
The present tense is the simplest tense in English, for if it is looked at the finite verbal group without auxiliaries. The distinction is that the third
person singular adds – s or – es. Simple present is used to describe an action, or event, or condition that is
occurring in the present, at the moment of speaking or writing.
a. Sentence pattern
+ S + V- 1 s es - S + do does + not + V
? Do does + S + V- 1
Example + Ahmad studies English at BEC everyday
- Ahmad doesn’t study English at BEC everyday ? Does Ahmad study English at BEC everyday?
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Www. Humnet.ucla.Eduhumnetaflagaspect.hausa-online-grammartensestenses html
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Sylva Chalker and Edmund Weiner, the oxford Dictionary of English Grammar, Oxford New York: Oxford University Pressp.395
b. The Usage:
The simple present tense performs the following functions or usages: 1. Express the general truth.
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Example: - The coffee comes from Brazil.
- The earth revolves around the sun. 2. Express the customs and habitual actions.
Examples: - She goes to school everyday
- She doesn’t study Arabic everyday 3. When used with the verb do, shows emphasis
- He does look like his father. - We do not speak Italian, but we do speak French.
c. Adverb of frequency
- Al – ways - Sometimes
- Usually - Occasionally
- Generally - Seldom
- Ever - Never
2. Present Continuous Tense The Present continuous is made-up of the auxiliary be + The Verb-ing
Present participle of the verb. Present continuous emphases the continuing nature of an act event, or condition.
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a. Sentence pattern
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Betty Schrampfer Azar, Understanding and using English Grammar,New Jersey: Premice Hall,Inc.,1989,2
th
ed.,p.11
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http:www.arts.uotawa.cawritcenthypergrammarusetense.html
+ S + to be is, am, are V- ing - S + to be is, am, are + not + V-ing
? To be is, am, are + S + V- ing?
Example + John is sleeping right now
- John is not sleeping right now ? Is John sleeping right now?
b. The Usage:
The simple present continuous tense performs the functions as below: 1. A tense that express an activity or state in progress at the moment of
the speaking. The action or state usually has duration as long as the concept of now in the context in which it is being used.
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Example: - She is talking to her father now
- They are standing there 2. as function of future when use the future adverbial
- I am leaving for USA next month - They are going to the movie tonight
c. Adverbial Time
- Now - at present
- Still - at this moment
- Look - right now
3. Present Perfect Tense
A.J. Thomson and A.V. martinet said, “The Present Perfect Tense is formed with the present tense of have + the past participle form of main
verb”.
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They also said “the negative is formed by adding not to the auxiliary. The interrogative is formed by inverting the auxiliary and
subject.”
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Betty Schrampfer Azar, Understanding and using English Grammar….,p .11
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George E. Wishon, Julia M.Burks, Lets write English American Book Company.p75
It is used to indicate an action that took place at indefinite time or over a period of time in the past, but still has relevance in the present
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a. Sentence pattern + S + have has +V3
- S + have has + not + V3 ? Have has + S + V3?
- The Examples in Sentences a. Affirmative
- I have been sick b. Negative
- I have not been sick c. Interrogative
- Have I been sick? - e has and have not has not can be contracted thus: I’ve been sick, etc.
b. The Usage
