Verbal tense and Verbal tense and aspectaspect

What is tense?What is tense?

In grammar, an inflected form of a verb indicating the time of a narrated event in relation to the time at which the narrator is speaking. –Encyclopedia Britannica

Differences between tenses Differences between tenses and timeand time

Time is a concept universally existent and tense Time is a concept universally existent and tense may be a grammatical device or vocabulary may be a grammatical device or vocabulary device specific to a language.device specific to a language.

e.g I enjoy English. (present)e.g I enjoy English. (present)

I enjoyed English. (past)I enjoyed English. (past)

I will enjoy English. (future??)I will enjoy English. (future??)

I’m going to enjoy English (future??)I’m going to enjoy English (future??)

A particular tense form can express different A particular tense form can express different temporal notions in different concepts. temporal notions in different concepts.

How many Tenses in English?How many Tenses in English?

Simple PresentSimple Present

The earth is round.The earth is round.

Light travels faster than sound.Light travels faster than sound.

Simple PastSimple Past

WWWII ended in 1945.WWWII ended in 1945.

We entered college in 2004.We entered college in 2004.

Tenses are mutually exclusive.Tenses are mutually exclusive.

ASPECTASPECTIn Grammar, aspect is an analytical device In Grammar, aspect is an analytical device used to reflect the way in which the verb used to reflect the way in which the verb action is regarded or experienced with action is regarded or experienced with respect to time.(Quirk et.al)respect to time.(Quirk et.al)

A category of the verb designating A category of the verb designating primarily the relation of the action to the primarily the relation of the action to the passage of time, especially in reference to passage of time, especially in reference to completion, duration, or repetition. (AHD)completion, duration, or repetition. (AHD)

Differences between tense and Differences between tense and aspectaspect

Tense is inflectional and aspect analytical. Tense is inflectional and aspect analytical. Tense refers to a systematic set of Tense refers to a systematic set of inflectional inflectional featuresfeatures that are loosely related to time, while that are loosely related to time, while aspect is usually expressed through the use of aspect is usually expressed through the use of certain vocabulary devices.certain vocabulary devices.

Tense usually points to temporal locations and Tense usually points to temporal locations and aspect generally marks the state of an action—aspect generally marks the state of an action—whether it is completed or not.whether it is completed or not.

How many aspects?How many aspects?

Progressive aspectProgressive aspect He is/was reading a book.He is/was reading a book.

Perfective aspectPerfective aspect They have/had finished that work.They have/had finished that work.

Aspects can be combined to form Aspects can be combined to form complex aspects:complex aspects:We have been studying English for 6 We have been studying English for 6 years.years.

Different combinations of Different combinations of Tenses and AspectsTenses and Aspects

Simple present:Simple present:

She plays the piano very well.She plays the piano very well.

Simple past:Simple past:

She play the piano very well.She play the piano very well.

Present progressivePresent progressive

She is playing the piano now.She is playing the piano now.

Past progressivePast progressive

she was playing the piano this time yesterday.she was playing the piano this time yesterday.

Present perfectivePresent perfective she has played the piano fro half an hour.she has played the piano fro half an hour.

Past perfectivePast perfective By lunchtime, she had played the piano for an By lunchtime, she had played the piano for an

hour.hour.Present perfective progressivePresent perfective progressiveShe has been playing the piano for a long time.She has been playing the piano for a long time.Past perfective progressivePast perfective progressiveBy 10 o’clock she had been playing the piano By 10 o’clock she had been playing the piano for two hours.for two hours.

Different combinations of Different combinations of Tense and aspectsTense and aspects

Use of simple presentUse of simple presentTimeless present (timeless statement or eternal truth)Timeless present (timeless statement or eternal truth)Present existence or state:Present existence or state:Habitual present (regular recurrence/ dynamic verbs) Habitual present (regular recurrence/ dynamic verbs) (often/ sometimes/ occasionally etc)(often/ sometimes/ occasionally etc)Character/ ability presentCharacter/ ability present

she loves music.she loves music. He doesn’t speak FrenchHe doesn’t speak French

Momentary and instantaneous present Momentary and instantaneous present (1) declarations(1) declarations (2)commentaries(2)commentaries (3)demonstration(3)demonstration

Use of simple presentUse of simple presentSimple present referring to the Simple present referring to the future(esp in independent clause)future(esp in independent clause)

Simple present referring to the Simple present referring to the past (communication verbs such past (communication verbs such as hear, tell, says, ect) and historic as hear, tell, says, ect) and historic presentpresent

Use of simple pastUse of simple pastPast eventPast eventpast habitpast habitPast statePast stateSimple past for present:Simple past for present:

Attitudinal pastAttitudinal past I wondered if you could help me post the letterI wondered if you could help me post the letter hypothetical pasthypothetical past If I were you, I would choose to leave at once.If I were you, I would choose to leave at once.

Simple past for futureSimple past for future if it rained tomorrow, we’d have to stay at home.if it rained tomorrow, we’d have to stay at home.

Use of present progressiveUse of present progressiveTo denote an action in progress at the moment of To denote an action in progress at the moment of speakingspeakingAn action in progress at a period of time An action in progress at a period of time including the presentincluding the presenta temporary event/habita temporary event/habit

my roommate likes to stay in bed in the morning, my roommate likes to stay in bed in the morning, but he’s getting up early these days because of but he’s getting up early these days because of the coming exam.the coming exam.Characteristic habitCharacteristic habitHe is always criticizing others.He is always criticizing others.Note: progressive verbs& non-progressive verbsNote: progressive verbs& non-progressive verbs

Use of present progressiveUse of present progressive

A future happening according A future happening according to a definite plan or to a definite plan or arrangementarrangement

To denote other To denote other meanings(immediate past/ meanings(immediate past/ politer requests)politer requests)

Use of past progressiveUse of past progressive

Denote an action in progress at a definite Denote an action in progress at a definite point or period of past timepoint or period of past time

To denote a past habitual actionTo denote a past habitual action

Incomplete actionsIncomplete actions

To denote futurity in the past To denote futurity in the past

To make polite requests and express To make polite requests and express hypothetical meaningshypothetical meanings

Differences between SP and PPDifferences between SP and PPTo denote an action in completion, we use the simple past; To denote an action in completion, we use the simple past; an action in progress, we use the past progressivean action in progress, we use the past progressiveTo state a mere past fact, simple past;on duration of time, To state a mere past fact, simple past;on duration of time, past progressivepast progressiveTwo actions: shorter duration by SP, but longer duration by Two actions: shorter duration by SP, but longer duration by PPPPIn colloquial, PP is to show casualness, unimportant and In colloquial, PP is to show casualness, unimportant and aimless, whereas aimless, whereas I was talking to Margaret the other day.I was talking to Margaret the other day.I talked to Margaret.I talked to Margaret.E) when we arrived, she was making some fresh coffeeE) when we arrived, she was making some fresh coffee when we arrived, she made some fresh coffee.when we arrived, she made some fresh coffee.

Uses of present perfectiveUses of present perfective

(1) present perfective(1) present perfective

(2) present perfective progressive(2) present perfective progressive

Uses of past perfectiveUses of past perfective

(1) past perfective(1) past perfective

(2) past perfective progressive(2) past perfective progressive

(3) past perfective in sentence with (3) past perfective in sentence with

when-/before-/after-/until- when-/before-/after-/until-

clausesclauses

(4) imaginary use of past perfective(4) imaginary use of past perfective

More on the use of perfective More on the use of perfective aspectaspect

(1) perfective aspect and since- clause(1) perfective aspect and since- clause

(2) perfective aspect vs. have got / have (2) perfective aspect vs. have got / have

got togot to

(3) perfective aspect in (3) perfective aspect in

“ “It is the first time + that- clauseIt is the first time + that- clause

Means of Expressing Future TimeMeans of Expressing Future Time

When we say that English has no When we say that English has no future tense, we certainly do not future tense, we certainly do not mean that English has not the means mean that English has not the means of expressing of expressing future time.future time.

Constructions denoting future timeConstructions denoting future time

In English, future time is expressed In English, future time is expressed by means of modal auxiliaries, by by means of modal auxiliaries, by semi-auxiliaries, or by the simple semi-auxiliaries, or by the simple present and present progressive present and present progressive forms.forms.

Constructions denoting future timeConstructions denoting future time

(1) will/shall + infinitive(1) will/shall + infinitive

will with subjects of all three persons,will with subjects of all three persons,

shall with a first person are used to shall with a first person are used to indicate futurity. The future meanings are indicate futurity. The future meanings are often colored by modal meanings from often colored by modal meanings from predication to intention and volition.predication to intention and volition.

Constructions denoting future timeConstructions denoting future time

(2) will / shall + progressive / (2) will / shall + progressive /

perfective infinitiveperfective infinitive

(3) be going to + infinitive(3) be going to + infinitive

(4) present progressive(4) present progressive

Constructions denoting future timeConstructions denoting future time

(5)(5) be to + infinitivebe to + infinitive

(6) simple present(6) simple present

Means of expressing past futureMeans of expressing past future

Would + infinitiveWould + infinitive

Was / were going to + infinitiveWas / were going to + infinitive

Was / were to + infinitiveWas / were to + infinitive

Past progressive and simple pastPast progressive and simple past

Was / were about to + infinitiveWas / were about to + infinitive

AssignmentAssignment

1.1. Exercises in the TextbookExercises in the Textbook

2.2. Is future another tense in Is future another tense in English?English?