Which affixes are listed as tense markers?

Which affixes are listed as tense markers?

• A. -S and -ED
• B. -ING and -ED
• C. -S and -ING
• D. -ED and -ING

Answer: (A)

Affixes that signal time in verbs are tense markers. In English, the suffix -s marks present tense for third-person singular (as in he walks), and the suffix -ed marks past tense for regular verbs (as in walked). The suffix -ing, on the other hand, denotes progressive aspect (is walking) or forms gerunds, not a tense by itself. So the combination that consists of true tense markers is -s and -ed. The other options include -ing, which relates to aspect rather than tense, so they don’t fit as tense markers.

Affixes that signal time in verbs are tense markers. In English, the suffix -s marks present tense for third-person singular (as in he walks), and the suffix -ed marks past tense for regular verbs (as in walked). The suffix -ing, on the other hand, denotes progressive aspect (is walking) or forms gerunds, not a tense by itself. So the combination that consists of true tense markers is -s and -ed. The other options include -ing, which relates to aspect rather than tense, so they don’t fit as tense markers.