The Use of the Primary Tenses

The Common Aspect

The Present Tense

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I write he writes we write you write they write	I do not write he does not write we do not write you do not write they do not write	do I write? does he write? do we write? do you write? do they write?

Spelling Rules

a) Verbs which end in –y preceded by a consonant change y into I and add –es[z] in the third person singular: I cry-he cries. But: I play-he plays.

b) Verbs which end in a sibilant represented in spelling by –ss, -ch, -x, -dge, add –es in the third person singular: I dress- he dresses.

The Use of the Present Tense of the Common Aspect

1. The present tense of the common aspect refers an action to the present:

Ex.: ‘I think we’re fellow lodges here,’ she said… (Maugham)

The present tense of the common aspect is used to express:

1. Actions permanently characterizing the subject:

Ex.: ‘Fleur does what she likes’ (Galsworthy)

2. Habitual or recurrent actions:

Ex.: ‘What time does she come here as a rule?’ (Dreiser)

3) Statements of a general character or universal truths:

Ex.: Light travels more quickly than sound.

2. Depending on the context and the general situation the present tense of the common aspect may also refer to a concrete action taking place at a given moment. In such a case the action is not considered in its progress but is stated as merely occurring.

Ex.: Why don’t you illustrate your report with examples?

3. The present tense of the common aspect is used in stage remarks where the playwright does not wish to stress the actions then in progress, but merely states them as directions to the actors:

Ex.: The street bell rings.(Shaw)

4. With verbs which are not used in the continuous aspect (to see, to hear, to understand)

Ex.: ‘Do you hear me?’(Dreiser)

5. The present tense of the common aspect is used with reference to an action in the future in adverbial clause of time and condition introduced by the following conjunctions: after, as, before, when, as soon as, directly, while, till, until, if, in case, suppose (supposing), on condition(that), etc.

Ex.: Keep straight on till you see me… (Dickens)

* In object clauses introduced by when and if (whether) the future tense is used when there is reference to the future.

Ex.: I don’t know when he will come, but when he comes, I shall speak to him.

6. The present tense of the common aspect is used to express an action in the future when the action is planned or anticipated. The present tense has this function usually with the verbs expressing motion. (to go, to come, to start, to leave).

Ex.: ‘To-morrow I leave home for Cambridge…’ (Bronte)

7. The present tense of the common aspect is used with reference to actions in the past to express vividness in narration (historic or dramatic present).

8. The present tense is used instead of the present perfect with such verbs as to learn, to tell, to hear, to forget.

Ex.: I learn that you have been ill.

Ex.: ‘Well, then, what are we talking about? - I forget.’(Shaw)

The Past Tense(Common Aspect)

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I wrote he wrote we wrote you wrote they wrote	I did not write he did not write we did not write you did not write they did not write	did I write? did he write? did we write? did you write? did they write?