Verb Tenses in academic writing
Verb Tenses in Academic Writing
By the Walden University Writing Center Staff
Common Verb Tenses
Verb tenses place actions in time, expressing whether the actions already took place (past), are currently taking place (present), or will be taking place (future). In scholarly writing, the most common verb tenses we use are the following:
Use the simple presentto describe a general truth, an action that is happening now, or an action that occurs on a regular basis:
This study addresses the shortage of research about gifted students.
Skinner’s theories remainvalid today.
Use the simplepast tense to describe an action that took place at a specific point in the past:
The instructor discovered that her students retainedinformation better when they were given more autonomy. Zimbardo (1998) researched many aspects of social psychology.
Use the future tense to describe an action that will take place at a particular point in the future:
Tomorrow, I will distribute the surveys to my students. Many students will attend the residency next June.
Use the present perfect tense (have + verb) to describe an action that began in the past and continues in the present:
Researchers have shown that the corpus callosum is more developed in cats than in dogs. (Notice that the implication here is that the research showed this in the past and continues to show this presently).
Psychoneuroimmunologists have demonstrated the influence of stress on chronic illnesses.
Use the past perfect tense (had + verb) to describe an action that began in the past and continued for some time but is no longer happening.
Before Freud’s discovery, psychologists had believed that hysteria was caused by a wandering womb.
Since she had developed her critical thinking skills, Mary performed well on the test.
Use the future perfect tense (will have + verb) to describe an action that is presently taking place and will continue taking place until some point in the future.
I will have revised this
By the Walden University Writing Center Staff
Common Verb Tenses
Verb tenses place actions in time, expressing whether the actions already took place (past), are currently taking place (present), or will be taking place (future). In scholarly writing, the most common verb tenses we use are the following:
Use the simple presentto describe a general truth, an action that is happening now, or an action that occurs on a regular basis:
This study addresses the shortage of research about gifted students.
Skinner’s theories remainvalid today.
Use the simplepast tense to describe an action that took place at a specific point in the past:
The instructor discovered that her students retainedinformation better when they were given more autonomy. Zimbardo (1998) researched many aspects of social psychology.
Use the future tense to describe an action that will take place at a particular point in the future:
Tomorrow, I will distribute the surveys to my students. Many students will attend the residency next June.
Use the present perfect tense (have + verb) to describe an action that began in the past and continues in the present:
Researchers have shown that the corpus callosum is more developed in cats than in dogs. (Notice that the implication here is that the research showed this in the past and continues to show this presently).
Psychoneuroimmunologists have demonstrated the influence of stress on chronic illnesses.
Use the past perfect tense (had + verb) to describe an action that began in the past and continued for some time but is no longer happening.
Before Freud’s discovery, psychologists had believed that hysteria was caused by a wandering womb.
Since she had developed her critical thinking skills, Mary performed well on the test.
Use the future perfect tense (will have + verb) to describe an action that is presently taking place and will continue taking place until some point in the future.
I will have revised this