How many tenses are there in English?

Many EFL teachers are trained that English only has 2 tenses. The reasoning was that the technical definition of a tense is when an inflectional morphological change has occurred, so the only two examples of this in English would be the present simple, with the 3rd person singular -s suffix, and the past simple, with the -ed suffix. Temporal information could also be conveyed using the perfect constructions, or with the modal verb will to convey future actions, but these are not tenses, so I was told.

However, some scholars have differing views on this, some stating the use of the modal verb will to convey future actions is in fact a tense. 

Rodney Huddleston in his enormous book The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language states there are two 'tense systems'. Primary tense, he says, is present simple and past simple (or preterite as he says), is contrasted with Secondary tense which includes perfect (have + participle) and non-perfect. So this is another subtly different view on the matter.

The Traditional View: Two Tenses

A common perspective, particularly among certain linguistic circles, is that English has only two true tenses: present and past. This view hinges on a strict morphological definition of tense, where tense is defined by the presence of inflectional changes in the verb form. In this framework, the present tense is marked by the -s suffix in the third person singular (e.g., "he walks"), and the past tense is marked by the -ed suffix in regular verbs (e.g., "he walked"). According to this viewpoint, other constructions that convey time, such as those involving the modal verb "will" for future actions, do not constitute tenses because they do not involve inflectional changes in the verb.

This point of view is reflected in the comments of linguists and educators who emphasize the importance of morphological changes in defining tenses. Some linguists state that the future tense in English is created using periphrasis (e.g., "will walk") rather than inflection, and therefore, strictly speaking, does not qualify as a tense under this definition.

The Broader Perspective: More Than Just Two

Despite the traditional view, many language teachers and some linguists advocate for a broader definition of tense that includes constructions like the future tense and various aspects such as the perfect and continuous forms. These educators often group these forms under the general label of "tenses" because they serve the practical purpose of helping learners understand and use the language. For instance, language textbooks often teach "tenses" such as the Present Perfect and Future Simple, acknowledging them as distinct entities despite the lack of inflectional changes.

The Aspectual and Modal Considerations

Another layer of complexity in this debate is the distinction between tense, aspect, and mood. While tense relates to the time of the action, aspect describes how the action unfolds over time (e.g., simple, continuous, or perfect), and mood expresses the speaker's attitude toward the action (e.g., indicative, imperative, or subjunctive).

One participant in the discussion emphasized that while English may only have two morphological tenses, it has multiple aspects that combine with these tenses to convey different temporal meanings. For example, the Present Perfect ("has walked") combines the present tense with a perfect aspect to express an action that occurred in the past but has relevance to the present. Similarly, the Future Simple ("will walk") combines a modal verb with the base form of the verb to convey a future action.

Linguistic Perspectives: A Matter of Terminology

The number of tenses in English can depend on whether the scholar adopts a semasiological or onomasiological perspective. A semasiological approach focuses on the form and asks what function it serves, leading to a more restrictive view where only morphologically marked tenses are recognized. Conversely, an onomasiological approach starts with the function (e.g., expressing future time) and looks at the forms available to fulfill that function, potentially leading to a broader recognition of tenses.

This difference in perspective often leads to disagreements among linguists and educators. For instance, some linguists argue that "will" is better categorized with modal verbs like "can" and "might" rather than as a tense marker. Others, however, include "will" under the banner of tense because it serves the function of expressing future time.

The Semantic Angle

Adding another dimension to the debate, some linguists focus on the semantic criteria for identifying tenses. From this perspective, English has only two tenses—past and non-past—based on how verbs are morphologically marked. The future, in this view, is not considered a true tense because it expresses modality (i.e., potentiality) rather than a straightforward temporal relation.

Conclusion: A Fluid Definition

The question of how many tenses there are in English remains a subject of debate, with no single answer satisfying all linguistic perspectives. For practical purposes, many educators continue to teach English using a broad definition of tense that includes various aspects and future constructions, as this approach aligns with learners' needs. However, among linguists, particularly those focused on morphology, the definition of tense may remain more narrowly defined, recognizing only the present and past tenses as true tenses.

Ultimately, the number of tenses in English depends on how one defines "tense"—whether by morphological changes, function, or a combination of both.