Tenses usually get me in trouble. I will begin a work in one tense and then one chapter later it’s in another one! And, yes, it’s in error and does not serve any higher purpose. As a proficient writer this annoys the English degree out of me!
So, let’s talk about tenses.
In the English language there are two tenses marked in the verb alone, present (as in “he speaks”) and past (as in “he spoke”).
Before you get excited, there are six basic tenses you need to pay attention to. This will help you to create a realistic world.
- Simple Present: They dance
- Present Perfect: They have danced
- Simple Past: They danced
- Past Perfect: They had danced
- Future: They will dance
- Future Perfect: They will have danced
These are marked by words called auxiliaries. The most common are:
- Be
- Can
- Do
- May
- Must
- Ought
- Shall
- Will
- Has
- Have
- Had
I bring this up because auxiliaries usually get us in trouble. Be aware of how you are using them.
What should I choose?
Past tense is the most used. You would use this to relay events of the plot that have already happened.
Present tense is rarer in novels; however, it does allow for a snappier, immediate style. The events of the plot are happening now – in real time. Many Young Adult books are using present tense. And compared to novels, short stories are written in present tense.
Future Tense is rarely used. This tense is best used in a few paragraphs here and there as it offers a prophetic feel — the narrator describes upcoming events as if they knew or actually do know what is to happen.
I hope this helps!
*If you are wondering why the 90s-themed art, well, I learned tenses and whatnot in the 90s and I felt nostalgic.
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