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Unlike what some people may think, tense is not the same as time. In English
there is only present tense and past tense. There is no future
tense in English, but future time is expressible with the help of the
auxiliaries will and shall. For expressing future time, both present
and past tense can be used:
| 1. |
My train leaves at three tomorrow. |
| 2. |
If I saw him tomorrow, I'd kick him in the face. |
In sentence 1 we have a present tense expressing something that will happen
in the future. In sentence 2 the past tense does exactly the same thing. Another
way of expressing future time, I have already mentioned:
| 3. |
I shall see the doctor tomorrow. |
| 4. |
He will wash his car next Tuesday. |
Finite vs. non-finite
Verbs do not always need to carry tense. Sometimes tense can be altogether
absent. When this occurs, the verb is said to be non-finite (tenseless). Verbs
that do carry tense are called finite (tensed). An infinitive is an example
of a non-finite verb. Participles are also considered non-finite verbs. Here
are some examples of sentences that contain non-finite verbs:
- He refused to take the hint.
- He is believed to be hiding in a cave.
- Taken ill, she went to bed.
- I saw your book reviewed in the paper.
- They had problems remembering where they were.
- We are busy doing the laundry.
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