Tense and Aspect I

What is Tense? What is Aspect? There are really only two true tenses in English : Past and Present Indicates when the time of evaluation occurs “future” is technically not a tense because there is no the verb is not marked The “temporally when” Aspect The following are considered aspects in English: simple, progressive, perfect, perfect progressive Indicates how the speaker views the situation Provides information about duration completion and frequency The “temporally how”

Simple vs Progressive Form Simple Form Habit: I usually wash my hair on Sundays. Completed actions: I bought a new car yesterday. General statements: Water boils at 100°C Descriptions of a series of events (fictional present): He comes in and sees her in front of the stove. He takes a knife Progressive Form For an action that is in progress: Is he still complaining about his girlfriend? For a temporary situation: Schlake is losing! For an incomplete action: I was just finishing off the cake when my mum came in.

Signal Words Simple Form Normally used with adverbs that suggest habit and frequency: always, sometimes, never, normally, occasionally, often, rarely, seldom, usually Progressive Form Normally used with adverbs of temporary duration: always (with irritation), at present, at the moment, currently, this week, just (when referring to the present time)

Stative vs Dynamic Stative Verbs These describe a state and are normally used ONLY in the Simple Form: I believe in life on Mars. (not I am believing) Dynamic Verbs These describe an action or event that can be used in both Simple and Progressive Forms: My cat bites my hand everyday. My cat is biting my hand!!

Stative Verbs Stative verbs fall into the following categories: 1)States of being and having: be, apply, belong, have concern, cost, depend, resemble, contain, lack, own, possess, weigh 2)Intellectual states: assume, believe, doubt, expect, forget, hope, imagine, know, notice, realize, remember, suppose, think (be of the opinion), understand, wonder 3)Emotional states: agree, consider, hate, intend, like, love, need, pity, prefer, regard, trust, want, wish 4)States of perception: feel, hear, see, smell taste, appear, seem 5) States of physical sensation: ache, hurt, itch, tickle

Stative Verbs used in the Progressive I As with any language “rule” there are exceptions. When a stative verb is used to describe an action of limited duration it can be used in the progressive Compare: “This class has 17 students” “My dog is having a senior moment” Can you think of other examples?

Stative Verbs used in the Progressive II “to be” can also be used in the Progressive if it has the meaning of a temporary state (as in the sense of “to act” or “to behave”): “Stop being such an idiot!” “You’re being stubborn” Why would you use one of the above statements instead of using the verb in the Simple form?

Stative Verbs used in the Progressive III Verbs of perception can also be used in the Progressive – again if they have the sense of an activity Compare: “My little brother has been smelling funny lately” “My little brother smells”

Stative Verbs used in the Progressive IV Verbs of physical sensation are often an exception, in that they can be used in the Simple and Progressive Forms for a temporary state Which of these questions do you prefer? Does it depend on the situation? “Does your back ache?” “Is your back aching?”

Practice! I _____(think) Bush is an idiot. A: You look happy. What’s up? B: I ______(think) about Ms. Mulder’s fascinating lecture. I __________ (consider) Bob to be a good friend of mine. Dortmund is so boring. I __________ (consider) moving to Berlin. That French cheese _______ (smell) like a farmyard. Why are you ______(smell) it then, to see if it has gone off?