The present simple or past simple
In storytelling, the choice between using the present simple or past simple tense can affect the engagement and impact of the story. Generally, using the present simple tense can create a sense of immediacy and make the story feel more dynamic and alive. It can make the events feel as if they are unfolding in the present moment, which can enhance the reader's connection to the story. Let’s look at this example.
“As darkness engulfs the room, the detective's heart races, driven by determination. She searches meticulously for the cold-blooded murderer, each step a calculated risk. Suddenly, a shiver runs down her spine as she senses a presence behind her. The sinister figure approaches her, his movements like whispers in the night. With lightning reflexes, she springs into action, unleashing a fierce strike that sends him crashing to the ground. The weight of relief washes over her as she triumphantly stands over her fallen foe, her victory secured just moments before the wailing sirens herald the arrival of the police.”
Let’s compare the use of the past simple.
“As darkness engulfed the room, her heart raced, driven by determination. The detective searched meticulously for the cold-blooded murderer, each step a calculated risk. Suddenly, a shiver ran down her spine as she sensed a presence behind her. The sinister figure approached her, his movements like whispers in the night. With lightning reflexes, she sprang into action, unleashing a fierce strike that sent him crashing to the ground. The weight of relief washed over her as she triumphantly stood over her fallen foe, her victory secured just moments before the wailing sirens heralded the arrival of the police.”
In this example, which uses the past simple tense, the actions are described as events that have already taken place. While still effective, the sense of immediacy and tension may be slightly diminished. The reader is aware that the events have already happened, which can create a small psychological distance between the reader and the story.
Which tense should I choose?
The present simple
The present simple tense can create a sense of immediacy and make the story feel as if it is unfolding in the present moment. This can be useful for action-packed scenes or when the writer wants to immerse the reader in the events as they happen. On the other hand, the past simple tense can be effective for reflecting on past events or when a retrospective tone is desired. Let’s compare:
"The rain pours down relentlessly as John sprints through the dimly lit alley, his heart pounding in his chest. He glances over his shoulder; fear grips his every step. The sound of footsteps grows closer, echoing in the narrow space. He knows he must find shelter before it's too late. He spots an open door ahead and lunges toward it, praying for safety. Adrenaline surges through his veins as he slams the door shut, barely escaping the danger that lurks just outside."
In this example, the present simple tense is used to describe the action as it unfolds, creating a sense of urgency and immediacy. Verbs like "sprints," "glances," "grows," "lunges," and "slams" all contribute to the present tense narrative, conveying the fast-paced and intense nature of the scene.
By using the present simple tense, the writer transports the reader into the moment, allowing them to experience the events alongside the character. The reader feels the rain, senses the fear, and shares the character's desperation to find safety. This immersive quality can heighten the suspense and engage the reader more actively in the story.
The present simple tense, in this case, helps to create a vivid and dynamic scene, capturing the reader's attention and drawing them into the immediate action and the character's perspective.
The past simple
The past simple tense provides a clear and straightforward way to narrate events that have already taken place. It helps to establish a clear timeline and allows readers to easily understand the sequence of events in the story.
"Sarah walked through the old, dilapidated house, her footsteps echoing in the empty halls. Memories flooded back as she explored each room, pausing at the cracked window where she used to gaze at the sunset. She remembered the laughter that once filled these walls, the warm family gatherings, and the countless stories shared around the fireplace. Now, everything lay in ruins, a haunting reminder of a bygone era. Sarah couldn't help but feel a bittersweet nostalgia as she reminisced about the happy days that were now mere echoes in time."
In this example, the use of the past simple tense allows the reader to join Sarah in reflecting on past events. The verbs like "walked," "echoed," "remembered," and "reminisced" all contribute to creating a sense of looking back and recalling past experiences. The tone is nostalgic, and the past simple tense helps to convey that wistful and reflective mood.
By employing the past simple tense, the writer creates a narrative distance that enhances the introspective and retrospective nature of the passage. The reader is invited to journey with Sarah as she revisits the past, allowing for a deeper exploration of emotions and memories associated with the setting.
Continuous tenses
The present continuous
The present continuous tense often describes the background setting, while the present simple tense is used to narrate the events.
"The waves are crashing against the rocky shore, while the salty mist is hanging in the air. The sun is setting, casting a warm golden glow over the horizon. Seagulls are soaring above, their cries filling the coastal breeze. In this serene seaside town, a group of friends gathers for their annual summer reunion.
As the evening unfolds, they sit around a bonfire, laughter filling the air. Sarah tells a funny anecdote, and everyone is engrossed in her lively storytelling. Suddenly, a distant rumble interrupts the mirth. They turn their heads, seeing dark clouds rolling in. Raindrops start to fall on the sand. As they run to seek refuge in the beach house, lightning is illuminating the sky and thunder is rumbling in the distance.”
In this example, the present continuous tense is used to set the background and describe the ongoing state of the setting (e.g., waves crashing, sun setting, seagulls soaring), while the present simple tense is used to narrate the specific events and actions of the characters. This combination creates a dynamic contrast between the continuous background and the present simple events, allowing the reader to feel immersed in the story while experiencing the vivid details of the scene.
The past continuous
Using the past continuous tense in a story like this can create a different effect compared to the present continuous tense. Here's an example of how the story would read with the past continuous tense:
"The waves were crashing against the rocky shore, while the salty mist was hanging in the air. The sun was setting, casting a warm golden glow over the horizon. Seagulls were soaring above; their cries were filling the coastal breeze. In this serene seaside town, a group of friends gathered for their annual summer reunion.
As the evening unfolded, they sit around a bonfire, laughter filling the air. Sarah told a funny anecdote, and everyone was engrossed in her lively storytelling. Suddenly, a distant rumble interrupts the mirth. They turned their heads, seeing dark clouds rolling in. Raindrops started to fall on the sand. As they run to seek refuge in the beach house, lightning was illuminating the sky as thunder was rumbling in the distance.”
Compared to the present continuous tense, the past continuous tense in this context places more emphasis on the past nature of the story, highlighting the passage of time and evoking a sense of reminiscence. It can create a more tranquil and retrospective atmosphere, drawing the reader into a reflective journey through the events of the story.
The Past Perfect
The burglar climbed over the gate, jumped onto the lawn, and ran to the back of the building. "He unlocked the door, made his way towards the vault, and retrieved a piece of paper from his pocket that held the coveted combination." As he tried to open the vault, he suddenly heard footsteps. He had left the back door open."
The use of the past perfect tense in the narrative helps to indicate an action that occurred before another action in the past. Here's an explanation of the instances where the past perfect is used in the provided narrative:
- "He had left the back door open."
The past perfect tense "had left" is used to describe an action that happened before another past action. In this case, it indicates that the burglar left the back door open before hearing the footsteps. The past perfect is used because the leaving of the door open occurred prior to the past tense action of hearing the footsteps.
The sequence of events can be understood as follows:
- The burglar left the back door open (past perfect).
- He tried to open the vault (simple past).
- He suddenly heard footsteps (simple past).
By using the past perfect tense, it establishes a clear chronological order and emphasizes that the leaving of the door open happened earlier than the other actions in the past.
Overall, the past perfect tense is employed to provide a sense of the temporal relationship between actions in the past, highlighting that one action occurred before another in the narrative timeline.
Future tenses
Future tenses are used in storytelling to indicate upcoming events and create a sense of anticipation or prediction.
"As the clock strikes midnight, fireworks will be lighting up the sky, painting vibrant colors across the city. People will be cheering, celebrating the arrival of the new year, filled with hope and excitement for what lies ahead.
Amidst the dazzling display, a young couple will make their way to the rooftop, hand in hand. Their hearts will brim with anticipation. They will exchange loving glances as their smiles mirror the bright bursts of fireworks illuminating the night. Soon, they will make a promise to each other—a resolution to embark on a journey of love and adventure together.
By the end of the night, a proposal will have been made.”
The future continuous
The future continuous tense is used to describe ongoing actions that will be happening at a specific future time. It creates a vivid image of the scene, conveying the anticipation and festive atmosphere of a New Year's celebration.
“Fireworks will be lighting up the sky, painting vibrant colors across the city. People will be cheering…”
The simple future
The simple future tense is used to indicate the upcoming events on the rooftop. It creates a sense of anticipation and suggests that a significant event will take place in the future, adding suspense to the narrative.
“A young couple will make their way to the rooftop, hand in hand. Their hearts will brim with anticipation. They will exchange loving glances as their smiles…”
The present simple
The present simple is usually used in clauses starting with as, when, before, after, until, etc.
“As their smiles mirror the bright bursts of fireworks…”
The future perfect
"By the end of the night, a proposal will have been made": The future perfect tense is used to describe an action (a proposal being made) that will happen before a specified future time (the end of the night).
Ultimately, the choice of tense depends on the time period, the desired effect and the overall tone of the story. All these tenses have their merits and can be used effectively depending on the context and the author's intentions.
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