Categories of English Verb: Tense

Grammatically the verb is the most complex part of speech. This is due to the central role it performs in the expression of the predicative functions of the sentence, i.e. the functions establishing the connection between the situation (situational event) named in the utterance and reality [4, 112]. A verb is often defined as a word which shows action or state of being. The verb is one of the principle parts of the sentence. Recognizing the verb is often the most important step in understanding the meaning of the sentence. From the morphological point of view the verb is characterised by a complex system of categories the main of which is the category of tense. It serves for expression of time-distinctions. With this category presents the most troublesome problems for a foreign student to master. So this category should be thoroughly investigated to escape problems with the use the right verb form in one or another situation.

Introduction…………………………………………………………………3
The category of tense: general information……………………………..4
Different views of English tense system………………………………..5
Two main tense oppositions ……………………………………………7
The problem of the verbs “shall/will” and “should/would” …………..10
Conclusion ………………………………………………………………..13
Bibliography……………………………………………………………....14