simplenlg-master/src/main/java/simplenlg/features/Tense.java
/*
 * The contents of this file are subject to the Mozilla Public License
 * Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may not use this file except in
 * compliance with the License. You may obtain a copy of the License at
 * https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/MPL/
 *
 * Software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS"
 * basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
 * License for the specific language governing rights and limitations
 * under the License.
 *
 * The Original Code is "Simplenlg".
 *
 * The Initial Developer of the Original Code is Ehud Reiter, Albert Gatt and Dave Westwater.
 * Portions created by Ehud Reiter, Albert Gatt and Dave Westwater are Copyright (C) 2010-11 The University of Aberdeen. All Rights Reserved.
 *
 * Contributor(s): Ehud Reiter, Albert Gatt, Dave Westwater, Roman Kutlak, Margaret Mitchell, and Saad Mahamood.
 */

package simplenlg.features;

/**
 * <p>
 * An enumeration representing the different types of temporal sense that can be
 * applied to a verb. The tense is recorded in the {@code Feature.TENSE} feature
 * and applies to verbs and their associated phrases.
 * </p>
 *
 * @author A. Gatt and D. Westwater, University of Aberdeen.
 * @version 4.0
 */

public enum Tense {

	/**
	 * The action described by the verb will happen in the future. For example,
	 * <em>John will kiss Mary</em>, <em>the dog will eat a bone</em>.
	 */
	FUTURE,

	/**
	 * The action described by the verb happened in the past. For example,
	 * <em>John kissed Mary</em>, <em>the dog ate a bone</em>.
	 */
	PAST,

	/**
	 * The action described by the verb is happening in the present time. For
	 * example, <em>John kisses Mary</em>, <em>the dog eats a bone</em>.
	 */
	PRESENT;
}
