From Twelve to Sixteen: A Critical Analysis of the Future‐in‐the‐Past Tense‐Aspect Combinations in Chinese EFL Grammar Books

ABSTRACT This study investigates how EFL grammar books published in China explain the English tense and aspect system. While most major English grammars recognize 12 tense‐aspect combinations, English instruction in China typically includes 16. To explore this discrepancy, we analyzed the eight most popular Chinese EFL grammar books, using four authoritative English reference grammars as benchmarks, and found that all four additional tense‐aspect combinations fall under the category of “future‐in‐the‐past.” These combinations are treated separately due to the absence of a tense system in Chinese that differentiates between will and would . The four future‐in‐the‐past combinations should, however, be analyzed in terms of backshifting or non‐backshifting, with the latter further divided into would functioning to convey propensity, volition, or prediction. Survey results of both students and teachers (n = 90) showed high awareness of the 16‐combination framework but limited knowledge of the international 12‐combination system. Citing excessive cognitive load and minimal usage, more than half the respondents viewed the additional four combinations negatively and supported reframing them to align with international standards. These findings offer valuable pedagogical insights for designing effective English grammar curricula and instructional materials in China.