MAKALAH

TENSES

Lecturer : Tatu Zakiyatun Nufus, M.Pd.

Compiled by:

Hilma Mufarriha 12407011010011

Hasna Afina Fauziyyah 12407011010045
Siti Hana Maysuroh 12407011010046
Fariza Najmi Rohali 12407011100270

UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH

JAKARTA FACULTY OF PSYCHOLOGY
2024
 PREFACE

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

First of all, we would like to thank to God Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala who has been
giving us blessings and mercies, so we can attend today's in a good condition. Secondly, may
sholawat and salam be with our Prophet Muhammad SAW who has guided us from the
darkness to the lightness in the world as well as in the next world.
With all the wisdom and guidance of Allah SWT. We are grateful to have completed
the paper entitled "Tenses". On this occasion we would like to thank:
1. Tatu Zakiyatun Nufus, M.Pd, as lecturer in English courses.

2. Group teams who have contributed to the preparation of this assignment.

We realize that the preparation of this paper is still far from perfect due to our limited
knowledge and experience. Therefore, we really hope for constructive criticism and
suggestions, so that they can become a reference in providing experience for us to become
better in the future. We hope that this paper can help increase knowledge and experience for
readers.
Jakarta, Oktober 10th 2024

The Writer

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 TABLE OF CONTENT

PREFACE...........................................................................................................................2

TABLE OF CONTENT.....................................................................................................3

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION......................................................................................4

A. Background of the Paper..........................................................................................4

B. Problem Formulation...............................................................................................4

C. Purpose of the Paper................................................................................................4

CHAPTER II THEORY AND DISCUSSION................................................................6

A. Definition of Tenses.................................................................................................6

B. Function of Tenses...................................................................................................6

C. Classification of Tenses...........................................................................................6

1. Present Tense......................................................................................................6

2. Past Tense............................................................................................................8

3. Future Tense........................................................................................................10

4. Past Future Tense................................................................................................11

CHAPTER III CLOSING.................................................................................................14

A. Conclusion...............................................................................................................14

BIBLIOGRAPHY..............................................................................................................15

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 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Paper

Have you ever tried to tell a story but found it hard to say exactly when things
happened? Or maybe you wanted to talk about your future plans but couldn't find the
right words? These are common problems that show how important tenses are.Tenses
are like time machines for language. They help us put our words in the correct order so
people can understand when things happened. By learning the rules for different tenses,
we can talk more clearly and confidently.Imagine trying to tell a story without being
able to say if something happened yesterday, today, or tomorrow. It would be
confusing! Tenses help us avoid this by showing when things happened. Also, tenses
can help us say things in different ways. For example, we can use one tense to say that
something is finished, and another tense to say that something was happening. This
helps us be more specific and clear. So, tenses are like tools that help us use language
correctly. By learning about tenses, we can become better communicators.

B. Problem Formulation
1. How is sentence structure in English affected by the use of different tenses?
2. What are the main components in English sentence structure based on types of
tenses?
3. What is meant by tense and what is the classification and function of each type of
tense in forming sentence structures?

C. Purpose of the Paper

1. Building a Bridge of Time: Tenses allow us to “travel” through time in language.
We can tell stories of the past, describe current events, or plan for the future. This
makes our conversations more lively and interesting.
2. Avoiding Misunderstandings: Using the right tenses will avoid misunderstandings.
Imagine if we say “I go to school” without the context of time, our interlocutor will
be confused whether we are going to school now or it is a daily habit.
3. Improving Writing Skills: Tenses give a clear structure to our writing. By using the
right tenses, we can construct sentences and paragraphs that are coherent and easy
to understand.
4. Enrich Vocabulary: While learning tenses, we will also learn different verb tenses.
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This will enrich our vocabulary and make us more fluent in using
English.Improves Cultural Understanding: Every language has different nuances
and customs in the use of tenses. By learning tenses, we also learn about English
culture.

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 CHAPTER II
THEORY AND DISCUSSION
A. Definition of
Tenses

Tenses are changes in verb tenses based on time and the nature of the activity or
event.Tenses are divided into four types: present, past, future, and past future. The four
groups are then further divided into 16 tenses. You can also learn tips to master 16
tenses. But of these 16 tenses, not all of them are used in daily conversation.

B. Function of tenses
Tenses have a very important role in English, which is to indicate the time of an
event or action. By using the right tenses, we can convey information more clearly and
accurately.
The main functions of tenses are:
1. Determining the time of event : whether an action takes place in the present, past,
or future
2. Indicates duration : how long an action lasts
3. Expresses completion : whether an action is completed or still in progress
4. Indicates habit : whether an action is performed regularly or only once.

C. Classification of Tenses
1. Present Tenses
Simple Present Tense is used to express an action or event that occurs in the present.
Apart from that, the Simple Present Tense is also used for:
• Habits or events that occur every day (habitual action) or a scheduled activity.
Verbs that are often used include arrive, begin, close, finish, open, and others.
• Revealing a general truth.

Types of Past Tense:

a. Simple Present Tense

Simple present tense used to express an action or event that occurred in the
present. Adverbs of time that are often used: always, usually, sometimes,
occasionally, often, frequently, everyday, once a week.

Formula: Subject + Verb 1(s/es)

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 Example:
o They speak Korean very well.
o They play football on weekends.
o She watches television.

b. Present Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to express an action or event that
occurred in the past and continues until now (now it is still being done or
happening). Adverbs of time that are often used: now, this morning, right now,
soon, tonight.

Formula: Subject + to be + Verb –ing

Example:
o Susan is typing a letter now.
o She is working on her homework now.
o Mark is moving to a new school.

c. Present Perfect Tense

Present perfect tense used to expresses an action or event that occurred in the
past until the present. The time information used is already, recently, lately, so
far.

Formula: Subject + has/have + Verb 3

Example:
o They have seen the movie Spider-Man: No way home
o I have written a novel for a year
o I have visited Paris twice.

d. Present Perfect Continous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used to express an action or event that
occurred in the past and continues until now (now it is still being done or
happening). The time information used is since and for.

Formula: Subject + has/have + been + Verb –ing

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 Example:
o I have been thinking about it.
o I have been studying English for 6 years
o He has been practicing the piano every day.

2. Past Tenses
In general past tense talking about things that happened in the past. Past tense is a
verb form that we use to talk about actions or events that happened in the past. So,
when you want to tell someone about something that happened yesterday, last week,
or even years ago, you use the past tense.

Functions of the past tense

• To talk about finished
actions ex: I ate an apple
yesterday.
• To talk about past habits
ex: She played the piano every day when she was young
• To describe past states
ex: The weather was sunny last Sunday

Time signals are words or phrases that tell us when something happened in the
past. Some common time signals used with the past tense are:
 Yesterday  When I was young
 Last week/month/year
 In 2022
 Ago

Types of Past Tense:

a. Simple Past Tense

To talk about actions that happened and finished in the past.

Formula:
o Positive: Subject + Verb 2 + Object
ex: He played football yesterday
o Negative: Subject + did not + Verb 1 +
Object ex: She did not go to school yesterday
o Interrogative : Did + subject + verb 1 + Object+?
ex: Did they visit their grandparents last weekend?
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 Note:
For regular verbs, add -ed to the end of the verb. For irregular verbs, the past
tense form is different (e.g., go - went, eat - ate).

b. Past Continuous Tense

To talk about actions that were in progress at a specific time in the
past. Formula:
o Positive: Subject + was/were + Verb+ing + Object
ex: I was reading a book when the phone rang.
o Negative: Subject + was/were + not + Verb+ing +
Object ex: They were not playing basketball at 5 pm.
o Interrogative: Was/Were + Subject + Verb+ing + Object+?
ex: Were you studying when I called?

c. Past Perfect Tense

To talk about actions that were completed before another action happened in
the past.
Formula:
o Positive: Subject + had + Verb 3 + Object
ex: She had finished her homework before she went out.
o Negative: Subject + had not + Verb 3 +
Object ex: They had not eaten dinner when I
arrived.
o Interrogative : Had + Subject + Verb 3 + Object+?
ex: Had he left before the meeting started?

d. Past Perfect Continuous Tense

To talk about actions that happening for a period of time in the past before
another action.
Formula:
o Positive: Subject + had been + Verb-ing + Object
ex: She had been studying for hours before she took the exam.
o Negative: Subject + had not been + Verb-ing + Object
ex: They had not been playing basketball for long when it started to rain.
o Interrogative: Had + Subject + been + Verb-ing +
Object? ex: Had you been waiting for me for a long time?
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3. Future Tenses
Future Tense is a verb tense used to express actions or events that will happen in the
future. It indicates that something is yet to come.
Time signals used with future tense:
 Tomorrow
 This evening
 Next week/month/year
 The day after tomorrow
 In the future
 In a few days/weeks/months
 Soon
 By next week/month/year
 Later
 Over the next few
 Tonight
days/weeks/month

Formula of future tense

Types of Past Tense:

a. Simple Future Tense
Basically, the simple future tense is used to describe an event that will
happen in the future. However, it can also be used to describe a spontaneous
future decision or express a prediction related to the future.

Formula: Subject + will/shall + verb 1

Example:
o She will come to the cinema tomorrow.
o I shall help you with your homework after dinner.
o We shall see the results of the test next week.

b. Future Continuous Tense

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Future continuous tense is used to tell an event that will definitely happen in
the near future. Unlike the simple future tense, the future continuous tense
is usually used to tell something that will (definitely) happen in the future.

Formula: Subject + will + be + Verb -ing

Example:
o He will be playing basketball in the playground tomorrow morning.
o They will be traveling to Bali during the school holidays.
o She will be working at the office until 6 p.m. today.

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 c. Future Perfect Tense
The future perfect tense is used to express that there is an action that will be
performed and completed at a certain time in the future. Simply put, the
future perfect tense is a form of words to show one's will in relation to the
future.

Formula: Subject + will have + Verbs 3

Example:
o I will have finished my homework by tomorrow.
o I will have completed my project by the end of the week.
o We will have traveled to five countries by the time we return home.

d. Future Perfect Continuous Tense

The future perfect continuous tense is used to express a description of an
action that will continue until a certain point in time in the future. In this
case, the action could have started in the past, present, or future and is
expected to continue.

Formula: Subject + will + have + been + Verb –ing

Example:
o In December, I will have been working at my company for one year.
o She will have been living in Ciputat for a year by next October.
o I will have been studying for three hours by the time you arrive.

4. Past Future Tenses

Past future tense or “future in the past” is a verb form to talk about the future
from a past perspective. More specifically, this form is used to express an action that
will be carried out, either voluntarily or planned, making predictions, and making
promises in the future while in the past. This tense is often used in reported speech
(indirect sentences). In simple terms, this tense can be used to create conditional
sentences.

According to Merriam Webster, the simple past future tense is formed from the
modal would and the bare infinitive or is formed from the auxiliary verb “be” (was,
were), the present participle “going”, and the infinitive.
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 What is an infinitive? An infinitive is the particle “to” + bare infinitive. There
are several important things you need to pay attention to when using this tense,
including:
• Was for singular subjects in the form of singular nouns (such as: Andi, book,
and cat) and singular pronouns (such as: I, she, he, and it) except you.
• Were, which is a plural verb, is used for plural subjects in the form of plural
nouns (such as: c ats, people, books) , plural pronouns (such as: you, they, we,
and cats), compound subjects that use and (such as: you and I, Andi and Susi),
and you.
Use of Past Future Tense
1. Expresses an event that will happen at a time that will have already happened in
the past.
Example:
I should go to Semarang last year (Saya akan pergi ke Semarang tahun yang lalu)
2. Expressing events, actions, and deeds that become habitual.
Example:
I would sit here for a long time (Saya akan duduk di sini untuk beberapa waktu)

3. Expresses an event, action, and deed that becomes a necessity.

Example:
We should obey the rules (Kami harus mematuhi peraturan)

Types of past future tenses:

a. Simple Past Future Tense
Past future tense is used to form sentences about the future from the perspective
of the past. Specifically, the past future tense is used to express actions that will
be taken, make predictions, and even make promises in the future while in the
past. Generally, this tense is found in indirect sentences or reported speech.

Simple Past Future Tense Formulas

The simple past future has two different types:

First, the past tense formed from the auxiliary modal shall/will, which becomes
should/would followed by the bare infinitive.

Second, the past tense of “to be” am, is, are which becomes was, were, plus

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 going to. This type is more often used to express planned actions.

Formula:
• Subject + would + Bare Infinitive
• Subject + was/were + going to + Bare Infinitive

Example:
o Giselle was going to give one beautiful bag to her best friend.
o She would forgive you
o Lia wasn’t going to give two beautiful scarfs to her friend

b. Past Future Continuous Tense

Past future continuous tense, the function of this tense is to show an event that
will occur in the past. However, the events in the story cannot become real
because of one thing or another that happened in the past.

Formula : Subject + would + be + Verb –ing

Example:
o I would be studying at your house yesterday, but I didn’t because I got sick.
o Anna would not be dying if she came to the hospital earlier.
o Would you be letting me see your painting?

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2. Past Future Perfect Tense
Past future perfect tense is used to indicate an activity that should have been
completed in the past. However, just like the past future continuous tense, this
activity is not finished because of one thing or another that happened in the
past.

Formula: Subject + would/ should + have + past participle

Example:
o Jonas should have submitted his homework at 9 am yesterday.
o I should have watched Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness last
night.
o Would you have finished your homework before tomorrow afternoon?

3. Past Future Perfect Continuous Tense

In general, the past future perfect continuous tense is a form or sentence
structure to express events that will have and are still happening in the past,
plus it has nothing to do with the present. So, if the future perfect continuous
tense is purely telling the future , while the past future perfect continuous tense
tells events in the past.

Formula: Subjek + would + have been + Verb-ing + complement

Example:
o I would have been teaching in SMA 3 Bandung for five years by last June.
o I would not have been working in leading companies for six years.
o My brother would have been studying in Harvard online short class for
one week by the end of this month.

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 CHAPTER III
CLOSING

A. Conclusion
In conclusion, a solid understanding of tenses is essential for effective
communication in English. Tenses allow speakers and writers to convey when an
action takes place, its duration, and its relationship to other actions or events. Whether
describing past occurrences, ongoing situations, or future plans, the correct use of
tenses adds clarity and meaning to communication. Misuse of tenses can lead to
confusion or misunderstandings, especially in formal writing or academic contexts,
where precision in language is crucial.
Moreover, tenses are not only about time but also about expressing intentions,
possibilities, and conditions. By mastering the various tenses, learners gain the ability
to articulate more complex ideas and scenarios with confidence. Continuous practice
and application in both speaking and writing are key to developing this proficiency.
Ultimately, the correct use of tenses is foundational to fluency, enhancing both the
speakers ability to communicate effectively and the listeners or readers understanding
of the massage

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Husnunnisa, I. A. (2024). 16 tenses dalam bahasa Inggris dan contohnya.

English Academy. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.english-
academy.id/blog/16-tenses-dalam-bahasa-inggris-dan-contohnya

Thunder, T. (2020). Tenses yang paling sering digunakan dan contohnya.

English First. Retrieved October 7, 2024, from
https://www.ef.co.id/englishfirst/kids/blog/tenses-yang-paling-sering-digunakan-dan-
contohnya/

Husnunnisa, I. A. (2024). Simple past tense: Pengertian, rumus, fungsi, dan

contoh kalimat. English Academy. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from
https://www.english-academy.id/blog/simple-past-tense-pengertian-rumus-fungsi-
dan-contoh-kalimat

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