Does Tense = Time ?

Not Always!

Situation and Time Words determine Time

Time chooses Tense (not the other way around).

For example,

Present Time (Now)

Present Continuous Tense

• I am eating my dinner right now.

Present Tense for “non-action” verbs

• I want some chocolate ice cream.

Future Time

Future with “will”

• I will leave tomorrow.

Future with “be going to”

• I am going to leave tomorrow.

Future Continuous tense

• I will be leaving tomorrow.

Future with Present Continuous tense

• I am leaving tomorrow

Future with Present tense

• I leave tomorrow.

Past Time

Facts: Use Simple Past Tense only

• I ate my breakfast at 7:00 this morning.

Relationship between two times.

• I had eaten my breakfast when my roommate left.

Relationship between events.

• I was eating my breakfast when the telephone rang.