Assertion: verb's tense | /r/HasProperty | simple past
Facets:
value: to distinguish them
type: PURPOSE
Source sentences:
text: When the verb wish governs a finite clause, the past tense (simple past or past progressive as appropriate) is used when the desire expressed concerns a present state, the past perfect (or past perfect progressive) when it concerns a (usually counterfactual) past state or event, and the simple conditional with would when it concerns a desired present action or change of state.
text: People who teach English as a foreign language say English has 12 tenses (simple present, present continuous, etc.)
text: The basic present and past tenses of the verb are called simple present (present simple) and simple past (past simple), to distinguish them from progressive or other compound forms.