The Role of Tenses in Story Development

Have you ever felt confused while reading a story? Feeling confused about the plot that is being narrated? That could be due to the improper use of tenses in the story writing.

So what are tenses and why are they important? Tenses are a description of time that describes an event or action that happened, so it can be understood clearly and correctly. In other words, tenses are a form of time. The tenses are generally divided into three: present, past, and future.

• Present tense: used to describe events that are happening now.

• Past tense: used to describe events in the past.

• Future tense: used to describe events that will happen in the future.

There are lots of types of tenses, so we should not use them in a wrong place because it is one of the main parts of a story writing. It plays a significant part in guiding the plot and develops the reader's knowledge to enhance the character's path in the narrative.  Do you want to know the important role of tenses in story development? Then make sure to read this article carefully, as it will give you a better understanding of the role of tenses in story development and their importance in creating compelling stories.

The role of tenses in the timing of story events

The foremost importance of the tenses in a story is to make an indisputable announcement to the reader about the time of the story. Is this a story about something that has happened, something that is happening, or something that will happen in the future. The readers would understand what they were reading without having to wonder when what event was taking place.

The role of tenses on the atmosphere in the story

The atmosphere within the story can moreover be impacted by the tenses we select. For example, choosing the present tense in the story can provide a more tense atmosphere. The choice of present tense in the story can make the readers feel as if they are experiencing the events that are happening when reading it. The choice of past tense in the story will usually make readers feel a nostalgic atmosphere and dissolve in reminiscing about what has happened in the past. While the future tense in the story will make readers fantasize and curious about the future to come.

Tenses can lead to a plot twist

Plot twists can be created by changing tenses in the middle of reading. When the reader is focused on reading the story, a change in tenses can be a plot twist. For example, by suddenly changing to the past tense to tell about past events and adding details that have not been known before. This change in tenses can make reading more engaging.

The role of tenses in character development

We can see the development of the character by using past tense. We can use past tense to compare the character in the past and in the present, showing what changes have happened to the character.

Tenses add a dramatic effect to the story

It turns out that the choice of tenses can also have a dramatic effect on the story. For example, the use of future tense when the characters of the story begin to think about bad things that will happen in the future. This dramatic effect can certainly make the story more interesting and make readers also imagine what will happen in the future.

Tenses in the various genres

The choice of tenses is also usually varied in each reading genre. Present tense is usually used mostly in thriller or adventure-themed stories. Past tense is usually used in historical stories that recall many events in the past, while future tense is usually used in science fiction reading. So make sure to choose the right tenses for the genre you want to write about.

After seeing some of the roles of tenses, it can be seen that the role of tenses is very important in story development, but it turns out that there are still many people who choose the wrong tenses in writing their stories. Here are the mistakes that are often found in various story writing:

Inconsistency in the use of tenses

Although changing tenses can create a plot twist that makes the story more interesting, changing tenses over and over can make readers confused about the plot they are reading. So it's better to maintain the tenses we chose at the beginning without having to change them all the time.

Incorrect use of tenses that do not match the event 

Incorrect use of tenses is also still often found. For example, a text is telling an event in the past, but there is text that uses the present tense. Make sure to double-check your writing to avoid mistakes such as this.

The use of tenses in story development is very important. Tenses make the story more structured and it will help the readers to read the story more comfortably. In addition, tenses can also help make the story more interesting. So, don't let the selection of tenses be considered unimportant and overlooked.