5 Questions
How many verb tenses are there in English?
12
What is the linguistic precision regarding the verb tenses in English?
There are 2 verb tenses.
How many verb tenses do most books and guidance refer to?
12
What determines the aspect of a verb?
The helping verb used.
Which verb tense is not considered linguistically precise?
Future tense
Study Notes
English Verb Tenses
- There are numerous verb tenses in English, but no specific number is universally agreed upon.
Linguistic Precision
- Linguistically, the precision of verb tenses is often debated, and different linguists have varying definitions.
Traditional View
- Most books and guidance refer to 12 verb tenses: Present Simple, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous, Past Simple, Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous, Future Simple, Future Perfect, Future Perfect Continuous, Past Continuous, and Future Continuous.
Aspect of a Verb
- The aspect of a verb is determined by the verb's relationship to time, including its duration, completion, and repetition.
Non-Linguistically Precise Tense
- The Future Perfect Continuous tense is often not considered linguistically precise, as it is rarely used in spoken language and can be ambiguous in meaning.
Test your understanding of verb tenses in English with this quiz! Discover how many verb tenses there are and get a brief explanation of their usage. Find out if the answer is 2, 3, 12, or 16 and improve your knowledge of past, present, and future tenses.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
