Verbal tense and aspect

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 and time Time is a concept universally existent and tense may be a grammatical device or vocabulary device specific to a language. e.g I enjoy English. (present) I enjoyed English. (past) I will enjoy English. (future??) I’m going to enjoy English (future??) A particular tense form can express different temporal notions in different concepts.

How many Tenses in English? Simple Present The earth is round. Light travels faster than sound. Simple Past WWWII ended in 1945. We entered college in 2004. Tenses are mutually exclusive.

ASPECT In Grammar, aspect is an analytical device used to reflect the way in which the verb action is regarded or experienced with respect to time.(Quirk et.al) A category of the verb designating primarily the relation of the action to the passage of time, especially in reference to completion, duration, or repetition. (AHD)

Differences between tense and aspect Tense is inflectional and aspect analytical. Tense refers to a systematic set of inflectional features that are loosely related to time, while aspect is usually expressed through the use of certain vocabulary devices. Tense usually points to temporal locations and aspect generally marks the state of an action—whether it is completed or not.

How many aspects? Progressive aspect He is/was reading a book. Perfective aspect They have/had finished that work. Aspects can be combined to form complex aspects: We have been studying English for 6 years.

Different combinations of Tenses and Aspects Simple present: She plays the piano very well. Simple past: She play the piano very well. Present progressive She is playing the piano now. Past progressive she was playing the piano this time yesterday.

Different combinations of Tense and aspects Present perfective she has played the piano fro half an hour. Past perfective By lunchtime, she had played the piano for an hour. Present perfective progressive She has been playing the piano for a long time. Past perfective progressive By 10 o’clock she had been playing the piano for two hours.

Use of simple present Timeless present (timeless statement or eternal truth) Present existence or state: Habitual present (regular recurrence/ dynamic verbs) (often/ sometimes/ occasionally etc) Character/ ability present she loves music. He doesn’t speak French Momentary and instantaneous present (1) declarations (2)commentaries (3)demonstration

Use of simple present Simple present referring to the future(esp in independent clause) Simple present referring to the past (communication verbs such as hear, tell, says, ect) and historic present

Use of simple past Past event past habit Past state Simple past for present: Attitudinal past I wondered if you could help me post the letter hypothetical past If I were you, I would choose to leave at once. Simple past for future if it rained tomorrow, we’d have to stay at home.

Use of present progressive To denote an action in progress at the moment of speaking An action in progress at a period of time including the present a temporary event/habit my roommate likes to stay in bed in the morning, but he’s getting up early these days because of the coming exam. Characteristic habit He is always criticizing others. Note: progressive verbs& non-progressive verbs

Use of present progressive A future happening according to a definite plan or arrangement To denote other meanings(immediate past/ politer requests)

Use of past progressive Denote an action in progress at a definite point or period of past time To denote a past habitual action Incomplete actions To denote futurity in the past To make polite requests and express hypothetical meanings

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

Uses of present perfective (2) present perfective progressive

Uses of past perfective (2) past perfective progressive (3) past perfective in sentence with when-/before-/after-/until- clauses (4) imaginary use of past perfective

More on the use of perfective aspect (1) perfective aspect and since- clause (2) perfective aspect vs. have got / have got to (3) perfective aspect in “It is the first time + that- clause

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

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

Constructions denoting future time (1) will/shall + infinitive will with subjects of all three persons, shall with a first person are used to indicate futurity. The future meanings are often colored by modal meanings from predication to intention and volition.

Constructions denoting future time (2) will / shall + progressive / perfective infinitive (3) be going to + infinitive (4) present progressive

Constructions denoting future time be to + infinitive (6) simple present

Means of expressing past future Would + infinitive Was / were going to + infinitive Was / were to + infinitive Past progressive and simple past Was / were about to + infinitive

Assignment Exercises in the Textbook Is future another tense in English?