Tenses

One of the problems lecturers encounter is mixed up tenses. The word "tense" refers to the form a verb takes to show the time when an action happened. Tenses in the English language can be confusing. Not only does the English language have tenses to express whether an event happened now, in the past, or in the future, but we also have tenses that express whether an action is ongoing (continuous) or how it relates to other reference points in time (perfect tenses). All of those can be put in the passive and active voice.

Nonetheless, even though this sounds very complicated, native speakers use all of these tenses correctly and with flair, and others simply have to learn all of this. The main problem all students have is that they sometimes get confused about which tense to use, and/ or they mix up the tenses in an unacceptable way.

The main focus of this section will be to help you avoid unacceptable mixtures in academic writing. However, just to refresh your memory, here is a short explanation and a table of how the verb form changes depending on the different tenses.

Present Tenses
Simple present I spin straw into gold.
(quite often, whenever I feel like it)		 Expresses general truth, unchanging or complete events in the present time (now).
Simple present continuous I am spinning straw into gold.
(as we speak)		 Actions are developing or happening now.
Present perfect I have spun straw into gold.
(I have finished now, but I remember clearly)		 An event that started in the past and is still connected to the present.
Present perfect continuous I have been spinning straw into gold.
(I have done this for the last three hours; my fingers still hurt)		 Connects the past with the present - the effect is still noticeable.
Past Tenses
Simple past I span straw into gold.
(during my last holiday)		 Completed action or event in the past.
Simple past continuous I was spinning straw into gold.
(..when my mother brought me a cup of coffee)		 An interrupted action or event in the past
Past perfect I had spun straw into gold.
(when the prince came for a visit)		 A complete action or event in the past that happened before another point in the past.
Past perfect continuous I had been spinning straw into gold.
(when I suddenly remembered that my favourite show was on TV)		 An event that happened in the past before another event in the past and the effects are still noticeable.
Future Tenses
Simple future I will spin straw into gold.
(I promise)		 States an event in the future that I know will happen.
Simple future continuous I will be spinning straw into gold.
(next Monday at 2 am)		 Fixed arrangements in the future.
Future perfect I will have spun straw into gold.
(by the time my favourite TV show starts)		 An event in the future that will have happened before another event in the future.
Future perfect continuous I will have been spinning straw into gold.
(for about three hours before my favourite TV program starts – and I can just imagine what my fingers will feel like)		 An event in the future that is still ongoing when another event will happen.

This should give you an idea how to use the tenses. However, if you want more information on the tenses as such and how to form them, follow the links below:

If you do know enough about tenses now, here is an example of a paragraph where tenses are mixed up. The names of the tenses used will be given just to give you an idea of what to call all of those verb forms.

Example:

On a beautiful day in the summer of 2006, Alberta the miller's daughter is being called (present continuous) by her father. The king had arrived (past perfect) because he hears (simple present) that Alberta can spin (present tense) straw into gold. Her father had been bragging (past perfect continuous) again, badly this time.

Since the king was (past tense) very stupid and very greedy, he actually believes (present tense) the story. He tells (present tense) Alberta to spin that gold or die. She, understandably, was (past tense) very upset and has (present tense) no idea what to do. First, she threw (past tense) a tantrum, then she cries (present tense) even though that makes (present tense) her eyes all puffy and red.

As you can see, past tenses and present tenses have been mixed up. Of course, at times, depending on the content of the story, that is quite acceptable, especially if you use the present tense, the present continuous and the present perfect together as has been done in the following example:

Example:

As she is finishing (present continuous) her third cup of coffee for the morning, Alberta hears (present tense) somebody shouting for her, a noise that has been getting (present perfect continuous) louder and more persistent.

In this case, the mixing of the tenses is consistent with the meaning of the sentence. All the events are happening in the present tense; the coffee drinking is an ongoing action, when another event interrupts (she finally hears her dad). At the same time, Alberta becomes aware that the noise of her father's shouting has been happening for a while.

Now here is the rewritten previous story in a consistent time frame.

Example:

On a beautiful day in the summer of 2006, Alberta the miller's daughter is being called (present continuous) by her father. The king has arrived (present perfect) because he has heard (present perfect) that Alberta can spin (present tense) straw into gold. Her father has been bragging (present perfect continuous) again, badly this time.

Since the king is (present tense) very stupid and very greedy, he actually believes (present tense) the story. He tells (present tense) Alberta to spin that gold or die. She, understandably, is (present tense) very upset and has (present tense) no idea what to do. First, she throws (present tense) a tantrum, then she cries (present tense) even though that makes (present tense) her eyes all puffy and red.

In this case the story could be written in the present tense or the past tense as long as the tense is consistent. Using the present tense can make the story more immediate; however, when an action definitely took place in the past, it can also be written in the past.

Here is an example of Rumpelstilzchen writing about his experience in the past tense.

On Friday, 21. June 2006, I awoke at 1 am. It was cold and rainy outside. I knew I had a job to do. I went to the barn at the palace and found a rather pretty girl sitting on a bail of straw. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying that had obviously gone on for some time. There were also a lot of used tissues on the ground. I quickly assessed the situation, stated my demands and began to spin about 25 bales of straw into gold. To my relief, the girl stopped sobbing rather soon and fell asleep. I finished the task at 4:30 am, well in time for a well-deserved breakfast. Once again, I had successfully put theory into practice.

In contrast to this rather formal report, here is what Rumpilstilzchen wrote in his journal a year later:

Today is the day when I am getting my reward for all the gold spinning I did last year. I am so excited. I hope nothing goes wrong and the queen doesn't know my name. I dress carefully, wait for the right moment when the queen is alone, and appear in a very dramatic puff of smoke. "I have come to demand my payment. I want your daughter," I demand in a deep and, may I say so, sonorous voice. Frankly, I am not sure what to do with a baby, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

This account has been written mainly in the present tense to make the story more immediate, except for the part where logic demanded the past tense.

In contrast to this rather personal account, here is a more scientific piece of writing written in the present tense. Because it is a scientific and academic piece of writing, the passive voice has been used frequently.

Spinning straw into gold is an art that is based on an understanding of quantum physics. At the level of the subatomic particles, all elements are broken down into even smaller forms of energy. Complete focus of the mind of a participant changes the frequency of any particular particle and can reprogram it with the desired new information. In this case, organic matter is turned into a metal. The monotonous action of a repetitive movement, such as spinning, helps the participant to focus his/her mind on the task thus affecting the quantum field to achieve the desired outcome. Distractions, such as crying girls, should be avoided.

In your studies, for example, you might be asked to write a case study or about your experience at a practicum. In that case you can choose which tense seems more appropriate. In most kinds of writing it will be obvious which tense you have to use. The main thing to remember here is that if you are in doubt, you should ask your lecturer. Once you have decided which tense to use, you need to use it consistently.