4

The Verb
Phrase–II

REPRESENTING TIME
IN our world view we think of time as a running stream, which can
be illustrated by a line with double arrow-heads, indicating the
moment now — the time of speaking or writing.

now

past present future

When we talk about an event — an activity or a state — we

usually need to indicate whether it exists in the present, existed in
the past or is likely to exist in the future. This is indicated within
the clause partly by the verb phrase and partly by adjuncts referring
to time — adverbs, noun phrases and prepositional phrases. Time
adjuncts will be discussed later.

The System of Tense

The time of the event is expressed within the verb phrase by a set
of forms known as the tense forms. Let’s look again at the structure
of the verb phrase.
(modal) (have + -en) (be + -ing) (be + -en) main verb
The system of tense depends on the choice of elements from
the above. Within this system we need to make a distinction between
absolute tense and relative tense.
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Absolute Tense
Absolute tense is denoted by the finite — the first element of the
verb phrase — and locates an event in time related to the time of
speaking or writing — the time now. The three absolute tenses are:
1. Present: location at the moment of speaking or writing or an
extended period including the moment of speaking or writing
2. Past: a time before the moment of speaking or writing
3. Future: a time after the moment of speaking or writing

Relative Tense
Relative tenses make further distinctions within the absolute
tense and are denoted by the choice of elements (have + -en) and
(be + -ing) — (have + -en) encodes pastness while (be + -ing)
encodes presentness.
Any tense choice following the finite takes the reference point
from the point established by the finite.
The three absolute tense forms are usually called the present
simple, the past simple and the future simple. The following table
illustrates the commonly used forms of the tenses.
Relative Absolute Example Conventional
Tense Tense Name

- present play/plays present indefinite

present in present is playing present continuous
past in present has played present perfect
present in past in present has been playing present perfect continuous
- past played past indefinite
present in past was playing past continuous
past in past had played past perfect
present in past in past had been playing past perfect continuous
- future will play future indefinite
present in future will be playing future continuous
past in future will have played future perfect
present in past in future will have been playing future perfect continuous
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THE VERB PRRASE –II

Let’s see how the concept of absolute tense and relative tense
helps us in understanding time indications of events — activities
and states. Look at these two sentences:
(i) The gardener was watering the plants when we reached
there.
(ii) The gardner had watered the plants before we reached there.
The tense in was watering is present in past and it expresses
that ‘the activity of watering’ was taking place — was present — at
the time of our reaching there in the past.
The tense in had watered is past in past and it expresses that
the ‘activity of watering’ had already taken place — was past — at
the time of our reaching there which was in the past. Thus, the
activity referred to by had watered is two steps in the past.

Relative Future
This is a time which is later than the absolute. It is expressed by
the form be + going to + main verb. The two common forms are:
1. Future in present: is going to + main verb
It is going to rain.
2. Future in past: was going to + main verb
It was going to rain.

Tense and Modals

Modals relate to the speaker’s attitude at the time of speaking.
This is present in the absolute tense. Hence, it will not be wrong to
say that with modals absolute tense is normally neutralised.
But originally could, might, should and would were the past
tense forms of can, may, shall and will and even now at least could,
might and would function as past tense forms in dependent clauses.
Look at these examples:
(i) He said, “We cannot finish it in time.”
He said that they could not finish that in time.
(ii) She said, “I may be a little late.”
She said that she might be a little late.
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(iii) They said, “We will definitely help you.”

They said that they would definitely help us.
However, most of the time, could, would and might function
as separate modals rather than as past tense forms of can, will
and may.
All modals frequently combine with relative present tense and
relative past tense.
(i) She might be coming by the next train.
(ii) They should have written to us earlier.

Tense in Non-finite Verb Phrases

Tense is selected by the finite, and as non-finite verb phrases do
not have a finite component, they cannot select for absolute tense.
However, they can select for relative tense which is a function of
the auxiliaries. Because of the absence of the absolute tense
component, the location of the process in time in non-finite clauses
depends on the tense in the finite clauses. Thus the relative present
(be + -ing) and the relative past (have + -en ) of the non-finite
clauses take the absolute tense — past, present or future — from
the finite or main clause. Look at these examples:
(i) Being an insider, he knew the tricks of the trade.
(ii) Being an insider, he knows the tricks of the trade.
(iii) Being an insider, he will know the tricks of the trade.
The non-finite clauses in (i), (ii) and (iii) can be paraphrased as (i)
he was an insider, (ii) he is an insider, and (iii) he will be an insider.

USING TENSES
The selection of tense depends on the process type involved as well as
the context. But before entering into details, let’s see what the various
types — indefinite, continuous and perfect — express in general.

Indefinite Tenses
Indefinite tenses have verb phrases in which only an absolute tense
is selected. They express:
1. Relative permanence of the state named by the main verb.
I live in Delhi.
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THE VERB PRRASE –II

2. Completion of the single event named by the main verb.

The batsman leans forward and drives the ball towards
mid-off.

3. Relative permanence of series of events named by the main verb.

I write to my father every week.

Continuous Tenses
Continuous tenses have verb phrases in which the relative present
is selected along with an absolute tense. They express:

1. Temporariness of the state named by the main verb.

The Ganga is flowing pretty fast today.

2. Incompleteness of the single event named by the main verb.

Don’t disturb me, I am writing a letter.

3. Incompleteness of series of events named by the main verb.

You are visiting Delhi very often these days.

Perfect Tenses
Perfect tenses have verb phrases in which the relative past is
selected along with an absolute tense. They express:

1. That the event named by the main verb is seen as related to

some later event.
It has rained heavily and rivers are overflowing their banks.

2. That the exact time of the event named by the main verb is not
known or is seen as not important or as irrelevant.
He has lived in this town for some time.

Tense and Process Types

The normal tense selection for reference to the time now is the
present continuous for action processes as well as for change type
relational processes.
(i) The children are playing in the garden.
(ii) The leaves are turning brown.
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But it is the present indefinite for mental processes as well as

for relational processes except the change type.
(i) I want you to finish it in time.
(ii) This place looks fantastic.
Now we will look at some of the other combinations of tense
selection and process types and their implications.

Present Indefinite with Action Processes

The present indefinite tense with action processes is used for actions
which are repeated regularly over a period of time including the
time now.
I usually work eight hours a day.
It is also used for actions which are presented as general
or universal.
The earth goes round the sun.
Water freezes at 0° Celsius.
It is also used in commentaries and demonstrations for reference
to the time now.
To make an omelette, I break two eggs into a bowl and beat
them like this.
It is used for future time reference when the event is scheduled.
The next train for Mumbai leaves at 10.35 a.m.

Continuous Tenses with Mental Processes

When a continuous tense is used with mental processes it often
carries the sense of starting to. Look at this sentence:
It seems he is liking his job.
As has been said earlier, continuous tenses carry an implication
that the process is temporary. With mental processes this is
exploited to express a certain tentativeness in polite requests and
suggestions.
I was wondering if you could lend me a hundred rupees for a
couple of weeks.
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THE VERB PRRASE –II

Continuous Tenses with Relational Processes

When continuous tenses are used with the linking verb be, they
suggest a kind of temporary behaviour.
(i) He was being naughty.
(ii) He is acting smart.

CIRCUMSTANTIAL ADJUNCTS OF TIME

There are three kinds of circumstantial adjuncts which are used
to indicate the time of the event.
1. Those which express the duration of the event and answer
questions with how long
2. Those which express the location of the event in time and answer
questions with when
3. Those which express the frequency of the event and answer
questions with how often

Duration of the Event

Duration of the event is usually expressed by prepositional phrases.
The following prepositions are used to express duration as
mentioned against them.
for : a whole period of time
during : a period of time but not necessarily the whole period
since : period starting from that point
until : period ending only when that point is reached

Location of the Event

Location of the event in time is also expressed by prepositional
phrases. The following prepositions are commonly used for
this purpose.
at : for clock times
on : with day or date
in : within a particular period of time
At is also used idiomatically in some expressions — at night, at
the weekend etc.
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All the three prepositions can be used with the word time.
on time : punctual; come when one should come
in time : not be late
at the/that time : at a particular moment

Frequency of the Event

Frequency is usually expressed by adverbs, adverb phrases and
noun phrases and may begin with inclusive referrers like all, both,
each, either, every, neither.
Relative frequency is usually expressed by mid-position adverbs
like always, often, sometimes, generally etc.