Why tenses are used

Other languages have no concept of tense at all, but of course they can still talk about time, using different methods. So, we talk about time in English with tense. But , and this is a very big but :. We cannot talk of tenses without considering two components of many English tenses: time and aspect.

In simple terms Past Perfect Tense is used to talk or write about an event whose consequences were still relevant at an implied or stated past time. Past Continuous Tense is used to talk or write about the setting of other events in the past. Past Perfect Continuous Tense is used to talk or write about the on-going nature of events that ended just before an implied time and that were still relevant at that time.

Simple Future Tense is used for events which will take place in the future. Future Perfect Tense is used to talk or write about an event whose consequences will be relevant at an implied or stated future time.

Future Continuous Tense is used to talk or write about the setting of other events expected to take place in the future. Future Perfect Continuous Tense is used to talk or write about the continuing nature of events that will end just before an implied future time and that will still be relevant to the that time.

Thus, despite being about the same person and being about the same action i. In scientific writing, tense usage depends upon the section of the paper being written. Different sections of an IMRaD manuscript warrant the use of different tenses. Here are a couple of articles that would help you understand which tense you should use while writing different sections of your manuscript:. Answered by Editage Insights on 17 Dec, This content belongs to the Manuscript Writing Stage. Translate your research into a publication-worthy manuscript by understanding the nuances of academic writing.

Subscribe and get curated reads that will help you write an excellent manuscript. I will be reading Nathaniel Hawthorne soon. I had read at least books by the time I was twelve. I will have read at least books by the end of the year.

I had been reading for at least a year before my sister learned to read. I will have been reading for at least two hours before dinner tonight. Grammar What Are Modal Verbs?