Past, present and future
Does it happen before now, now, or later?
Meaning
A speaker can place an event or state before now, in the present, or later. This helps the listener separate earlier events, current situations, and future events. Many languages use tense, a choice of verb form that marks time. Other languages, such as Mandarin, have no tense forms and use time words and context. When and how long gives a more precise time or duration; How an event unfolds tells us whether an event is in progress, complete, repeated, or connected to another time.
How to spot it
Ask whether the event or state belongs before now, in the present, or later. Look for verb forms, helper words, time expressions, or context that give you that answer.
In your native language
English has present tense and past tense verb forms; the past is often marked by -ed, but many common verbs use a different form. A present tense form can describe habits and states, while present tense be plus an -ing form often describes an action happening now. Future time is commonly expressed with will, be going to, or a present tense form supported by context.
We walked home yesterday.
The ending marks past tense.
Lena works at a cafe.
A present tense form describes a regular activity; with he, she or it, it ends in -s.
Maya is cooking right now.
A present form of be with an -ing verb form describes an action in progress now.
I will call you tonight.
Our train leaves at six tomorrow.
A present tense form describes a scheduled future event.
In your learning language
Spanish verb forms place events and states in the present, past, or future. There are several past forms: pretérito indefinido is common for completed events, while pretérito imperfecto often describes past situations and habits. Future events can use a future ending, ir a plus an infinitive, the dictionary form of a verb, or a present form with a future time expression.
Ahora vivo cerca del trabajo.
Now I live close to work.
El año pasado me mudé a Sevilla.
I moved to Seville last year.
Me mudé uses pretérito indefinido for a completed move.
El mes que viene voy a cambiar de trabajo.
I'm going to change jobs next month.
Ir a plus an infinitive presents the change as a future plan.
Learners whose language has only one past tense may choose a Spanish past form just because an event happened before now, without considering how it is presented. Learners whose language uses a future form for every future event may overlook present forms and ir a.