Tenses in English grammar have two parts in meaning: time and aspect.
Time
The time of the action is usually clear:
Past
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He went to the pharmacist with a question.
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She was reading a book while I was waiting for my medication.
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It used to be a brand name drug.
Present
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The doctor is prescribing a medication.
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She doesn't smoke.
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They don’t have allergies.
Future
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The pharmacy won't be open yet.
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Are you going to see the Xrays tonight?
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Do you think I will feel better by tomorrow?
Sometimes, the present tenses can have a future meaning:
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What time are you leaving to the clinic?
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My medicine arrives tomorrow evening.
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She is going on a trip next week.
Sometimes, the past tenses can have a present meaning:
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I wish I were healthy.
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She could help but she isn’t licensed here.
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If I had an illness, I wouldn't be here.
Review - Tenses and Time
Mark reviews tenses and time
Aspect
There are three important aspects to consider in English grammar tenses: Simple, Continuous, and Perfect:
The Simple Aspect
The simple aspect describes complete actions. They are viewed as starting and finishing. This is especially important when we use a number, meaning "finished actions."
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It usually heals quickly.
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I mixed the medication long enough.
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She will probably recover soon.
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They have seen that diagnosis before.
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I took fifteen milliliters of the medicine.
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She needs about 20 ml per day.
Review - The Simple Aspect
Mark explains the simple aspect
The Continuous Aspect
The continuous aspect focuses on the duration of an activity. This means we are focusing on the time between the start and finish of an activity. In the continuous aspect, the activity is never permanent.
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She's probably compounding the medicine now.
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I was watching TV at 9pm last night.
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We will be living in France this time next year.
In the continuous aspect, the activity may not be complete or finished:
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She was counting tablets when the patient started vomiting. (She didn't finish counting)
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Who has been mixing these meds? (There is still some mixing to do)
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The boy was crying in the waiting room when they left. (The boy didn't finish crying)
Stative verbs rarely take the continuous form. This is because they are seen to be permanent and they do not frequently change.
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Did you understand the directions?
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I love this part of medicine.
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She really believes in herbal remedies.
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That drug costs too much.
Some verbs, like live, work, play, and learn usually last a long time. When we use the continuous aspect with these verbs, it makes them temporary. We are focusing on the fact that the action is not permanent.
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I work in New York, but I have been working in Cairo for the last year.
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She is working abroad right now.
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The clinic was doing really well. I'm surprised they changed their location.
Some verbs usually only last a short time. They are usually found in the simple aspect.
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The surgeon performed an amazing surgery.
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The pharmacist dispensed the medicine.
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He compounded the cream.
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I have counted by five all day.
Review - The Continuous Aspect
Mark explains the continuous aspect
The Perfect Aspect
The perfect aspect refers to something before a time. Present Perfect refers to before now, Past Perfect refers to before a past time, and the Future Perfect refers to before a future time. The exact time of the action is not important.
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Have you ever seen that symptom? (Sometime before now)
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In 2022, I think I will have saved many lives. (Sometime before 2022)
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When I got to work, someone had coded in the clinic. (Sometime before I got to work)
Review - The Perfect Aspect
Mark explains the perfect aspect
Exercise
Using what you have learned about aspects, complete the activity.