Tense Use In The Introduction

Type of Information Verb form Example

To stay ahead in their markets,
manufacturers often seek to apply
innovative design features and
functions to their products.
facts present tense
There is no current legislation
which forces manufacturers to
recycle used products.
Research has led to many
accomplishments including a
reduction in the use of
general statements energy. (active)
present perfect tense
about the level of
(active or passive) Less is known about the
research activity possibilities offered by the new
technique, although several
studies have been
published. (passive)
weak author Some authors (Mattila 1995,
present perfect tense (active or
citations (several Loots and Wolfson 20022) have
passive)
authors mentioned suggestedthat the non-linear

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and authors names effects in the screening
given in brackets) procedures are important in the
calculations .
simple past tense

common verbs:

• found Koskela et al [10] suggested a

prominent author slightly different model .
• obtained
citations (the • showed
findings of authors in Very recently, Lönnkvist et
• introduced
single studies) al [8] introduced a model which has
• reported
already gained some standing.
• noted
• suggested
• proposed

There are still very few publications

in the scientific literature based on
ignalling the present tense (active or passive) this process .
problem or our gap
There is an urgent need to define a
in knowledge
suitable test method for these
types of boilers.

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 Less is known about the
possibilities offered by the
TRF technique, although several
studies have been
published. (passive)
present tense

common verbs: The present paper deals with the

possibilities for modifying the
• discusses codes .
• outlines
This work compares three
• describes
purpose of the • considers bleaching processes which can be
report used for pulp manufacture from
• deals with
• presents recycled paper .
• is concerned with
This paper looks at an area which
• investigates has so far been given little
• compares
consideration.
• determines

simple past tense

purpose of the The objective of this study was to
research or compare the outcome of manual

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 present tense and automatic quality control
procedures .

The main research objective of this

investigation was to substantially
reduce energy consumption.

The objectives of this project are to

develop a powerful framework for
life cycle analysis.
This project shows that the
modal auxiliary verbs: (which signal process can be significantly
that author’s attitude is “tentative”) enhanced by incorporating two
new technological developments.
• will (sure)
• would Thus, it can perhaps be claimed as
value of study • should an innovation on a theoretical
• can level.
• may
• might As a result, successful short-term
• could (tentative) projects might be the key to
incorporating long-term
benchmarking in the future.
http://cc.oulu.fi/~smac/TRW/tense_intro.htm