05.000 Chapter 5: Expressing time

Chapter 5: Expressing time

5.1 Introduction

5.7 The present

5.8 the present moment

5.17 the moment of speaking

5.21 Emphasizing time in the present: using adjuncts

5.26 The past

5.27 Stating a definite time in the past: the simple past

5.31 repeated actions

5.33 The past in relation to the present: the present perfect

5.37 Events before a particular time in the past: the past perfect

5.40 Emphasizing time in the past: using adjuncts

5.52 The future

5.53 Indicating the future using 'will'

5.58 Other ways of indicating the future

5.60 Adjuncts with future tenses

5.63 Other uses of tenses

5.64 present tenses

5.65 Firm plans for the future

5.66 Forward planning from a time in the past

5.69 Timing by adjuncts

5.75 Emphasizing the unexpected: continuing, stopping, or not happening

5.84 Specific times

5.99 approximate times

5.111 Subordinate time clauses

5.112 Extended uses of time expressions

5.113 Frequency and duration

5.114 Adjuncts of frequency

5.123 Adjuncts of duration

5.135 Indicating the whole of a period

5.137 Indicating the start or end of a period

5.143 Duration expressions as modifiers

5.1 Introduction

When you are making a statement, you usually need to indicate whether you are referring to a situation which exists now, existed in the past, or is likely to exist in the future. The point in time that a statement relates to is usually indicated by the verb group used in the clause.

A set of verb forms that indicate a particular point in time or period of time in the past, present, or future is called a tense.

The set of forms belonging to a particular tense is usually obtained by the addition of inflections to the base form of the verb, or by the inclusion of auxiliaries or modals in the verb group.

• smile...smiled
• was smiling...has been smiling...had smiled
• will smile...may smile

Some verbs have irregular forms for past tenses.

• fight...fighting...fought
• go...going...went

5.2

Sometimes the point in time that the clause relates to is sufficiently indicated by the tense of the verb group, and no other time reference is required. However, if you want to draw attention to the time of the action, you use an adjunct of time.

• She's moving tomorrow.
• Record profits were announced last week.
• He was better after undergoing surgery on Saturday.

An adjunct of time can be an adverb, a noun group, or a prepositional phrase.