TENSE AND ASPECT

Tense, Aspect and Concord are three

concepts that are fundamental to
English grammar
• Tense is a form of a verb deployed to
indicate the time of an action. As far as
communication in English language is
concerned, adequate understanding on
how and when these concepts work is
vital. As human beings, our action
might have occurred in the past; it may
occur in the present or may occur in
the future.
• Tense (a form of verb), also taken as
time tells action that occurred in the
past; that occurs in the present, and
that will occur in the future.
• Aspect is a grammatical label that
covers progressive and perfective.
These two (progressive and perfective)
look at human action in a special way.
Simple Present Tense
When a verb is used to indicate
that an action takes place at
present, it is known as present
tense.
Let us consider the examples
below:
• Fred likes pancake.
• The sun sets in the west.
• We are very busy now
• I leave everything to God.
• They depend on him for their needs.
The above sentences show that tense
indicators (such as –ing, -ed or -en) or
auxiliaries (e.g. can, will, among others)
are not added to the simple verb forms.
The Use of Simple Present
Tense
1. Simple Present Tense
expresses habitual function
Examples:
Ojo travels on Mondays.
He takes tea every morning.
2. Simple Present Tense indicates universal
truth
• Examples: Honey is sweet.
Mrs. Decker is fair in complexion
3. Simple Present Tense is used to indicate
a fixed event.
E.g: The next interview session is at
7:00am
The stage duel starts at 2 o’clock.
4. Simple Present Tense is used instead of the
Present Continuous Tense to express an action of
perception ‘see’, ‘hear’, ‘smell’, ‘recognise’, ‘notice’,
‘look’
Examples: She sees me. (“She is seeing me” is
incorrect))
• She hears the clinging of the bell (“She is hearing
the clinging of the bell” is incorrect))
• Kim recognises his parents from afar. (“Kim is
recognising his parents from afar” is incorrect))
• I notice some errors. (“I am noticing some errors”
is incorrect))
 Simple Past Tense
• The Simple Past Tense is used to express an action
that occurred in the past. The regular verbs take
their past tense by adding ‘–ed’ to the simple form
of the verb, for example, cook, for cooked, while
irregular verbs form theirs in various ways, such as:
come – came, cast – cast, take – took, etc. Let us
consider the examples below:
• Segun installed the gadgets.
• I put balm yesterday.
• She served only table four at the event.
• Nichole fried some pieces of meat.
The Use of Simple Past Tense
1. Simple Past Tense expresses action in the
past
Examples: Ese prepared the food few hours
ago.
He locked the main gate hurriedly.
2. Simple Past Tense expresses past
discontinued action.
Examples: He always slept under the bridge
before the shelter.
Fred often talked about his late parents.
Simple Future Tense
The Simple Future Tense is used to express an
action or a state of being which will unfold at a
time in the future.
• To express the future, the simple form of the
main verb is retained. However, the modal
auxiliary verbs such as ‘shall’ and ‘will’ are
characteristically used. ‘Shall’ is used with the
first person singular (I) and plural (We) to
express actions in the future while ‘will’ is used
with the second (you) and third person (she, he,
it and they) singular and plural respectively.
Let us consider the examples
below:

I shall attend the meeting.

He will stay till tomorrow.
You will play for the next team.
We shall monitor the
examination closely
The Use of Simple Future Tense
1. Simple Future Tense indicates future
actions
Examples: I shall close the gate by 10:00
p.m.
It will amount to nothing tomorrow.
2. Simple Future Tense indicates future
habitual actions
Examples: I shall celebrate my son’s
birthday November 21, every year.
Aspect
• Aspect is a grammatical label that covers
progressive and perfective. These two
(progressive and perfective) look at human
action in a special way. Do not forget that,
human action is captured within a time frame:
the present, the past, and the future, and that
verb used to indicate the time of the action is
called tense. However, at some time, such
action may be continuous (progressive aspect)
or completed (perfective aspect); therefore, the
tense will indicate continuity or completeness.
• Progressive Aspect specifies that the action is, was
or will be in progress at the time of speaking. This
is formed by combining a form of the verb ‘be’ (and
modal auxiliary verbs will or shall in case of future
action) with the present continuous form of the
main verb. Let us consider the examples below:
• David is typing the hand-written manuscript.
(Present Progressive)
• David was typing the hand-written manuscript. (Past
Progressive)
• David will be typing the hand-written manuscript.
(Future Progressive)
In the sentences above, is, was are
examples of ‘be’ verbs combined
with the present continuous form of
the main verb, ‘typing’, to indicate
both present progressive and past
progressive. While ‘will’, a modal
auxiliary verb, and be, are combined
with the main verb to indicate future
progressive.
Perfective Aspect shows that the
action or activity has been
completed. This is formed by
combining a form of the verb ‘have’
with the main verb in its past
participle form. Let us consider the
examples below:
• David has typed the hand-written
manuscript. (Present Perfective)
* David had typed the hand-written
manuscript. (Past Perfective)

In the sentences above, ‘has’, a lexical

singular verb, is combined with ‘typed’, a
past participle main verb, to indicate
present perfective while ‘had’, a lexical
singular verb, but in its past form, is
combined with ‘typed’, a past participle
main verb, to indicate past perfective.
Beyond the individual consideration of
progressive and perfective aspects, both
aspects can be combined in the same
structure. Let us consider the examples
below:
• David has been tying the manuscript
since. (Present Perfective Progressive)
• David had been typing the manuscript
since. (Past Perfective Progressive)
Merging Tense and Aspect
Tense (present, past, future) and Aspect (progressive and
perfective) can be combined in English. With this
combination, we can have the following:
• Present Continuous/Progressive Tense
The Present Progressive Tense indicates an action that is
on-going at the time of speaking. It is expressed with the
verb ‘be’ (am, is, are) and present participle ‘-ing’ form of
a verb. Let us consider the examples below:
• He is sweeping now.
• She is travelling now.
• They are watching television.
• I am writing a letter to my Dad.
The Use of Present Progressive Tense
1. Present Progressive Tense indicates an action
continuing at the time of speaking. E.g:
The choir is singing.
They are washing some clothes.
2. Present Progressive Tense indicates a
temporary action. E.g: (a) We are studying
Yerima’s Hard Ground. (b) Kim is typing a note.
3. Present Progressive Tense indicates a persistent
habit. E.g:
He is always running on the school field.
Past Progressive Tense
• The Past Continuous Tense indicates an
action that was on-going in the past. It
is expressed with the verb ‘be’ (was,
were) and present participle ‘-ing’ form
of a verb. Let us consider the examples
below:
• She was travelling then.
• They were watching television.
• I was writing a letter to my Dad.
The Use of Past Progressive Tense
1. Past Progressive Tense indicates an action
which was continuing in the past
Examples: They were coming late to school.
He sauntered in while I was preparing for
school.
2. Past Progressive Tense indicates a past
persistent habit. Examples:
They were always lying.
She was always sleeping before 9:00pm.
Present Perfect Tense
• The Present Perfect Tense indicates an action or
activity that has just been completed, but which is
still relevant up to a point in the present, or an
action that started in the past but still extends to
the present. It is expressed with the lexical verb
‘have’ (have, has) and past participle ‘-ed’, ‘d’, ‘en’
or past form of irregular form of verbs. Let us
consider the examples below:
• I have cast the news.
• He has stopped work.
• Nick has eaten the whole plate of rice.
•
The Use of Present Perfect Tense
1. Present Perfect Tense indicates an action
with a present effect
E.g: I have sprained my ankle.
Fred has wasted the bucket of water.
2. Present Perfect Tense indicates a past
action with continuation up to now.
Examples:
I have known him for a long time.
Present Perfect Progressive Tense
The Present Perfect Progressive Tense indicates an
action that has been taking place since a point of
time in the past and in progress up till now. It is
expressed with the verbal phrase ‘have/has been’
and present participle ‘-ing’ form of a verb. Let us
consider the examples below:
• I have been waiting for her for two hours.
• The Chairman has been talking since.
• The company has been constructing for quite a
long time.
• We have been queuing since 7:00a.m.
The Use of Present Perfect Progressive Tense
1. Present Perfect Progressive Tense indicates
an action which is still continuing. E.g:
He has been writing for long.
Fred has been steering for 2 minutes.
2. Present Perfect Progressive Tense indicates a
completed action. Example:
He has been missing since August, 2016 and so
his parents are so worried.
Past Perfect Tense
The Past Perfect Tense indicates an action or activity
already completed in the past before another past
action. It is expressed with the lexical verb ‘had’ and
past participle ‘-ed’, ‘d’, ‘en’ or past form of irregular
verb form of verbs. Let us consider some examples :
• The interview had commenced before Segun
arrived the venue.
• The tyre had burst before the vehicle
somersaulted.
• He had offered him a cup of coffee.
• Tola had taken to her heels before they arrived.
The Use of Past Perfect Tense
1. Past Perfect Tense indicates an action
completed before a certain moment in
the past. Example:
We had married before year 2012.
2. Past Perfect Tense indicates an action
of the remote past. Example:
When we reached the beach, the ship
had left.
Past Perfect Progressive Tense
The Past Perfect Progressive Tense indicates an action
or activity that had already been taking place before
another past action. It is expressed with the lexical
verbal phrase ‘had been’ and present participle ‘-ing’
form of a verb. Let us consider the examples below:
• I had been reading the novel before he demanded it.
• Olu had been spying at the event before he was
caught.
• He had been learning foreign languages before he
started native languages.
• He had been coming by bus before he bought his car.
The Use of Past Perfect Progressive Tense
• Past Perfect Progressive Tense indicates
an action that had begun before a
certain point in the past and continued
up to that time. Examples:
• At that period, he had been missing his
classes.
• When I arrived at the venue, they had
been interviewing for two hours.
Future Progressive Tense
The Future Progressive Tense is used to indicate
an action that will take place in the future. It is
often expressed with the modal auxiliary (shall,
will) and lexical verb (be); combined with present
participle ‘ing’ form of verbs. Let us consider
some examples:
• I shall be resuming office next week.
• We shall be clamouring for re-election next
month.
• They will be coming later in the day.
• Ade will be arriving by 5:00pm.
The Use of Future Progressive Tense
1. Future Progressive Tense indicates an action
which will be in progress at a future time.
Examples:
They will be dancing in the aisle when we enter.
We shall be singing at noon.
2. Future Progressive Tense indicates future fixed
programme. Examples:
The Part-Time students will be resuming next
month.
He will be visiting on Thursday.
Future Perfect Tense
The Future Perfect Tense is used to indicate an
action that will have been completed before
another event in the future. It is often expressed
with the modal auxiliary (shall, will) and lexical
verb (have); combined with participle “’-ed’, ‘d’,
‘en’ or past form of irregular verb” form of verbs.
Let us consider some examples below:
• I shall have finished the novel by tomorrow.
• We shall have initiated him by 2:00 p.m.
• She will have written the letter.
• They will have poured the gravel.
The Use of Future Perfect Tense
• Future Perfect Tense indicates an
action that will be completed by a
certain future time. Examples:
They will have danced in the aisle
by then.
We shall have gone by noon.
 Future Perfect Progressive Tense
The Future Perfect Progressive Tense is used to
indicate an action that is expected would have
started and is anticipated to have been completed
at a particular future time. It is often expressed with
the modal auxiliary (shall, will) and lexical verb
(been); combined with present participle ‘–ing’ form
of verbs. Let us consider the examples below:
• I shall have been receiving my friends by this time
tomorrow.
• You will have been reading later by the day.
• It will have been raining seriously by 2:00a.m.
• Fred will have been slaughtering the Ramadan ram
The Use of Future Perfect Progressive
Tense
• Future Perfect Progressive Tense
indicates an action that will be in
progress over a period of time that will
end in the future. Examples:
• I shall have been teaching for five years
next June.
Concord
• Concord in English grammar simply means
agreement between words in gender, number,
case, person, or any other grammatical category
which affects the forms of the words. For
instance, a subject in a sentence must be in
agreement with the verb in the sentence in
terms of number. A singular subject attracts a
singular verb while a plural subject takes a plural
verb. There are many rules to follow as far as
English grammatical concord is concerned. Let
us examine some of these rules.
• A singular subject requires a singular verb.
• 1 Examples: My friend plays video game.
• It matures daily.
• 2 A plural subject requires a plural verb.
• Examples: My friends play video game.
• They come in at will.
• 3 The pronouns “I” and “you” take plural
verb even though they are singular.
• I act like a local girl often in the store.
• You are a liar.

• 4 When the subject is realised by a noun

phrase, the phrase counts as singular if its
head is singular.
• Examples: The change in crime rates is
alarming
• The changes in crime rate are alarming.

• 5 Finite and non-finite clauses generally

count as singular.
• Examples: How you got there does not
concern us.
• Smoking cigarettes is dangerous to your
health.
• 6 Prepositional phrases and adverbs
functioning as subject also count as singular.
• Examples: In the evenings is best for me.
• Merrily does it.

• 7 Two singular subjects joined with the

conjunction ‘and’ require a plural verb.

• Examples: Denzel and Femi are so curious

about the whole thing.
• Segun and Moyo were at the party.
• 8 A compound subject with a singular
meaning requires a singular verb.
• Examples: Ajisafe and Associates recruits
frontline officers.
• Adusco and Sons sells literary books.
• 9 When two singular subjects are joined
with “and” but are appositive (a noun or
pronoun that adds information and details),
the verb is singular.
• Examples: The Registrar and Secretary of
Council is invited.
• The Head of Teachers and Principal attends
the meeting next week.
• 10 Two subjects joined with “and” but
considered as a single thing or idea require a
singular verb.
• Examples: Bread and butter is morning meal
for us.
• Indomie noodles and egg is better together.
• 11 Two singular subjects joined with “and”
but preceded by “every” or “each” take a
singular verb.
• Example: Every male and female is qualified to
attend.
• Each programme and event in school was
monitored.
• 12 Two singular subjects joined with any of
“or” or “nor” will require singular verb.
• A boy or a girl is what the couple clamour for.
• 13 Grammatical constructions of “either…
or”, “neither… nor” patterns will require a
verb that agrees with the nearer subject.
• Examples: Neither Prof. Olu Omoya nor his
servants request food.
• Either the children or their father is to be
called for service.
• 14 Non-count nouns will take singular verbs.
• Examples: No money has been recovered yet.
• Some cement is applied to the wall.

• 15 Plural count nouns require plural verbs.

• Examples: Some of the shops have been
demolished.
• Half of the books are needed at the moment.
• 16 Two singular subjects joined with any
of “including”, “together with”, “in
conjunction with”, “as well as” or “along
with”, will take singular verb.
• Examples: The Relevance Theory, as well as
Speech Act Theory, is appropriate for
• the paper.
• Seun, together with Ayo, was reliably
informed.
• 17 Some words occur in plural form; thus
they require plural verbs. Examples are:
goods, remains, minutes, etc.
• Examples: His remains were interred
yesterday.
• Goods are put there only.
• 18 Some words in plural form but have
singular meaning will require singular verbs.
• Examples: Politics is lucrative in this part of the
world.
• The news has gone viral.
• 19 Words such as cattle, staff, police and
people etc., which do not have obvious plural
markers, but which are plural in nature require
plural verbs.
• Examples: The police are expected at the
scene.
• People are so gullible when it comes to
Nigerian politics.
• 20 When reference is made to a period of
time, a singular verb is required.
• Examples: Two hours is not enough for
students to write such intensive course.
• Four years is enough for the programme.
• 21 A grammatical construction that contains
the phrase: “More than one…” will require a
singular verb even though it has a plural
meaning.

• Examples: More than one student has been

allowed to sit for the examination today.
It is obvious that more than one book is
required to write the paper.
• 22 Indefinite pronouns such as everyone,
everybody will take singular verbs.
• Example: Everybody delights in fruits.
• Everyone needs a pen.

• 23 Indefinite pronouns, which are always

plural, such as several, both, many, others, will
take plural verbs.
• Examples: Several are invited for the function.
• Others are yet to arrive.
• 24 The phrase “one of” refers to one out of many,
therefore, it will take a singular verb.
• Examples: One of the cars brought in needs servicing.
• They got to know that one of the books was missing.

• 25 A grammatical construction with “One of the . . .

that/who/which” will take a plural verb because the
relative pronoun refers to a subject in the plural
number.
• Examples: I will like to take one of the plates that
have covers.
• He rides in one of the cars that are expensive.
• 26 A sentence construction that has “many
a” will take a singular verb.
• Examples: Many a pastor is trustworthy.
• Many a lecturer does exercises.

• A sentence construction with “A number of”

will require a plural verb.
• Examples: A number of votes were not
accounted for.
• We discovered that a number of people are
unable to afford regular meals these days.

• 28 However, a sentence construction with

“The number of” will require a singular verb.
• Examples: The number of students on campus
today reduces to what we had yesterday.
• The number of applicants has reduced.