Legal English Tuition

Self-study Aid - Tense Tables

Which tense a speaker employs depends on his or her point of view. The first column designates time references and tense labels. Forms that rarely or never occur have been crossed out. Details: Grammar Guide (NEW!)

Contractions: ain't - am not, isn't, aren't, hasn't, haven't; gonna - going to

Pre-Past (= Past Perfect) v. Past

A speaker’s point of view may be past looking back. The speaker is talking about something that happened prior to something else in the past: I moved to L.A. where I had bought a house.

Past v. Pre-Present (= Present Perfect)

A speaker with a present point of view may look back to the pre-present. The pre-present period is time-up-to-now. A speaker with such a point of view may not specify "when" something took place: I’ve lived in L.A. for years. Whether the speaker still lives there can only be inferred from context. A speaker may very well consider the same event as clearly detached from the present and take a past point of view: I lived in L.A. for years. Now a listener knows the speaker lives there no longer.

Grammars usually say the pre-present is connected with now. This holds true from a subjective perspective. Speakers embrace the past event as their "present" memory even though the event dates back a long time. The essential difference is that speakers’ view the pre-present as not being separated from the present, and hence their time reference is vague and indefinite (time cues include recently/so far/in my life), while people imagine past time as a period distinctly detached from the present (e.g. yesterday/last week/some time ago).

Simple v. Progressive (= Continuous)

A speaker’s concern may be the starting or finishing point of a period: I’ve lived in L.A. for years. The speaker could have the starting point of the period in mind (still lives there) or its endpoint (lives there no longer). People may instead form a mental picture of the sequence itself: I’ve been living in L.A. for years (still/no longer). I was living in L.A. for years (no longer). The focus is on the duration of the event as seen from its center (cf. Grammar Guide).

Grammars often state the progressive is used for events perceived as temporary or incomplete. This again holds true from a subjective perspective. What speakers deem temporary may in fact last an hour or years. Thus the essential distinction is similar to the difference between a still shot and a motion picture. Simple tenses mirror a punctual concern, while progressive reflects a sequential viewpoint: They’re playing splendidly. He shoots. Goal!

Present

The simple sees time in terms of facts and permanent state of affairs, as in I live in L.A. The progressive sees time more in terms of its unfolding at the moment of speaking, as in I’m staying with a pal for the time being.

Post-Present v. Future

A speaker’s point of view may be present looking forward. Under these circumstances, the speaker’s concern is with present factors, which are expected to lead to an event. The speaker may emphasize an external factor: I’m moving to L.A. next week (arrangement in place – the process has begun). According to schedule, I leave at 7 A.M. (timetable – punctual concern). The speaker may as well have an internal factor in mind: I’m going to move to L.A. next week (present intention – punctual). I’m going to be moving to L.A. next week (present intention – sequential).

A speaker could also take a future point of view. Then the speaker’s primary concern would be with the future event, as in I’ll move to L.A. next week. Speakers may make their concern sequential, as in This time next week I’ll be moving to L.A.

Future in the Past v. Pre-Future (= Future Perfect)

The point of view may be in the past looking forward. The speaker is talking about something that was yet to come at this time: Last time we met, you were going to move to L.A. (for more examples, download my Grammar Guide).

The point of view may be in the future looking back. The speaker is talking about something that has been completed prior to a certain point in the future: I’ll have moved to L.A. by the end of next month.

Subjunctive Mood

Edited English continues to require the subjunctive in that-clauses following formal requests, orders, or recommendations: It is essential that she contact us as soon as possible. It is important that she be present when we sign the documents. The subjunctive is formed the same way as the infinitive of the verb, without any inflections. On all other levels, people usually prefer should + infinitive, as in The parole board recommended that he (should) remain in prison for life.

To express imaginary situations, which are counterfactual, people use past tenses in if-clauses (irrealis) coupled with would in the main clause. Hypothetical situation (if + past / would + infinitive): If I knew her name, I would tell you. If you lost your job, what would you do? Unreal past (if + past perfect / would have + past participle): If you had worked harder, you would have passed your exam. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t’ve met the deadline. Punctuation: Commas set off subordinate and main clause if the subordinate clause comes first: If you had asked me, I would have told you. I would have told you if you had asked me.

“Would” only occurs in main-clauses; other uses are nonstandard: If I would win the lottery, I would be rich (nonstandard). If I won the lottery, I would be rich (standard). However, “would” occurs as request in if-clauses: If you would come along, I’ll show you around.