第四章 动词的时、体、态、式  内容提要： ◆动词的时、体、态、式 ◆时态的用法 ◆助动词的用法

动词的时、体、态、式  What do we mean by tense and aspect?  Tense is a grammatical form of verbs that tells of the distinctions of time.  English verbs have two tenses: the present (Φ) and the past (-ed).  Aspect is a grammatical form that indicates whether an action or state is viewed as complete or incomplete.  English verbs have two aspects: the progressive (-ing) and the perfective (-ed).  There is no such a thing as future tense in English corresponding to the present and past tense; rather, there are a number of ways of expressing future time, eg: shall/be going to + main verb.

Possible verb forms in the combination of tense and aspect:  Tense aspect combination active voice passive voice  1. simple present plays am/is/are played  2. simple past played was/were played  3. present progressive am/is/are playing am/is/are being played  4. past progressive was/were playing was/were being played  5. present perfective have/has played have/has been played  6. past perfective had played had been played  7. present perfective progressive have/has been playing  8. past perfective progressive had been playing

动词的态 (Voice)  Voice is a grammatical form of verbs that shows whether the subject of a sentence acts or is acted on.  English verbs have two voices: active voice (Φ) and passive voice (-ed).  Two forms of passive voice: (1) “be + V-ed”;  (2) “get + V-ed”.  Eg:  In the end, he got punished for a crime.  Shortly afterwards, the police stopped the car and both men were arrested.

动词的式 (Mood)  Mood is a grammatical form of verbs that indicates whether an utterance expresses a fact, a command or request, or a non- factual meaning.  English verbs have three moods: indicative, imperative, and subjunctive.

 Tell in what mood each of the following sentences is.  Make yourself at home.  It is desirable that everything be ready by five o’clock.  France lies on the windward side of Europe.  The harsh weather last year is the result of the global greenhouse effect.  Don’t be late for class.  I wish I could help.

 In modern English, non-factual meaning can be expressed by a number of ways, by the simple past, by the past progressive, by the past perfective, by past tense modals + V, by conditionals, and of course, by subjunctive mood.  Eg.  I should be there by now if I had started earlier.  How I wish I had gone there with you!  He would do it if you asked him.  If you should see Celia, give her my best wishes.

 English verbs have two forms of subjunctive mood:  (1) “be-subjunctive”; that is, the verb takes the base form.  (2) “were-subjunctive”, that is, the verb has only the were form.  Eg.  I wish I were young again.  It is essential that he recognize his faults.  If I were in your shoes (position), I would accept the terms.  If that be so, we shall take action at once.

 It is necessary that he come back without delay.  If the rumour be true,everything is possible.  Quietly we sat on the river bank lest the fish swim away.  Whatever be his defense, we cannot tolerate his disloyalty.  God bless you!  So be it.  If only I were not so nervous.  He behaves as though he were better than us.  Though the whole world were against me, I would do what I consider as right.  I wish it were spring all the year round.  I'd rather I were not at the site of the accident.

时态的用法  一般现在时的用法  一般过去时的用法  现在进行体的用法  过去进行体的用法  现在完成（进行）体的用法  过去完成（进行）体的用法

助动词的用法  primary auxiliaries  modal auxiliaries  semi-auxiliaries

将来时间表示法  基于现在的将来时间的几种结构  基于过去的将来时间的几种结构