What does TENSE Mean?(시제란 무엇인가?)

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What does TENSE Mean?

A tense is a form of a verb which shows the time at which an action happens.

■ A Simple tense

A Simple tense is a form of a verb that simply shows when the action takes place.

• The Simple Past is a form of the verb that shows the action took place in the past.

  For example: Lisa danced yesterday.

• The Simple Present is a form of the verb that shows the action takes place in the present.

  For example: Lisa dances every day.

• The Simple Future is a form of the verb that shows the action will take place in the future.

  For example: Lisa will dance tomorrow.

■ Progressive (Continuous) Tenses

Couple dancing

PROGRESSIVE means "continuing".

A Progressive tense is a form of a verb that shows the action is in progress. Or in other words, that it continues.

• The Past Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action was in progress at some time in the past.

  For example: Lisa was dancing yesterday at 8 o'clock.

• The Present Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action is in progress in the present.

  For example: Lisa is dancing right now.

• The Future Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action will be in progress at some time in the future.

  For example: Lisa will be dancing tomorrow at 8 o'clock.

■ Perfect Tenses

 PERFECT means "complete, finished".

A Perfect tense is a form of a verb that shows the action is complete. It does not mean the action is "perfect" (100%). It means the action is finished.

• The Past Perfect is a form of the verb that shows the action was complete before some time in the past.

  For example: Lisa had danced before she came.

• The Present Perfect is a form of the verb that shows the action was complete before the present.

  For example: Lisa has already danced.

• The Future Perfect is a form of the verb that shows the action will be complete before some time in the future.

  For example: Lisa will have danced tomorrow by 9 o'clock.

■ Perfect + Progressive?!

A Perfect Progressive tense is a form of the verb that shows the action started, continued, and was complete until some point.

• The Past Perfect Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action started in the past and continued until some point in the past.

   For example: Lisa had been dancing for 2 hours before she was tired.

• The Present Perfect Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action started in the past and continued until the present.

  For example: Lisa has been dancing for 3 hours without stopping!

• The Future Perfect Progressive is a form of the verb that shows the action will continue until some point in the future.

  For example: By tomorrow morning, Lisa will have been dancing for 12 hours!