The best replacement for tense is aspect.

The best alternatives to tense are rated as following:
★★★★★  aspect
★★★★★  past participle
★★★★  present tense
★★★  past tense
★★★  present perfect
★★  present progressive
★★  intense
★★  tensed
★★  mood
★★  past perfect
★★  nervous
★  present
★  worried
★  present continuous
★  preterite
★  verb form
★  voice
★  present continuous tense
  progressive tense
  present perfect continuous
  passive tense
  present perfect tense
  future progressive tense
  participle
  tenser
  lax
  past perfect tense
  simple past
  future perfect tense
  imperfect
  simple past tense
  imperfect tense in spanish
  past progressive
  perfect tense
  conditional tense
  imperfect tense
  past continuous
  preterite tense

Your alternative for tense is not listed? Suggest!
Speaking about tense, one probably shouldn't forget about regular.

Other search terms related to tense and their ratings are:
★★★★★ regular
★★★★★ would
★★★★ helping verbs
★★★★ since
★★★ did
★★★ have
★★★ had
★★ for and since
★★ yet
★ etre
★ passive voice
★ helping verb
regular verbs
verb
You have in mind a companion for tense and it is not yet here? Propose!



Google Trends

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tense
aspect
past participle