1. TENSE
Time versus Tense

2. TENSE = A DEICTIC CATEGORY
Tense = representing the chronological order of events in time, as perceived by the speaker at the moment of speaking (ST)
Tense = deictic = the moment NOW central, past and future = directions of orientation depending on ST
Tense is a functional category that expresses a temporal relation to the orientation point ST, locating the situation

3. Past
Future
Speech Time

4. TENSE= more than just inflections
Stuart walked to school. Stuart walked to school every day. Albert is playing tennis. Albert is playing tennis tomorrow.

5. TENSE= more than just inflections
Tense specification of the verb (V) – tense inflection
Temporal adverbials

6. TEMPORAL ADVERBIALS ANCHORED UNANCHORED
Explicit relation to Speech Time
now, yesterday, tomorrow
No explicit relation to Speech time
in June, on Friday

7. TEMPORAL ADVERBIALS Duration adverbials (for X time)
Completive adverbials(in X time)
Frequency adverbials (often, seldom)
Locating/Frame adverbials:
Deictic: last week, last night (ST)
Anaphoric: until, till, on Sunday (previously established time)
Referential: at six, in August (calendar time)

8. General framework: Reichenbach’s model
The semantic interpretation of temporal forms presupposes three points in time:
ST – speech time
RT – reference time
ET – event time

9. General framework: Reichenbach’s model
Tim is playing in the garden.
Tim went on holiday last year.
ST – speech time
The time at which the sentence is uttered.

10. General framework: Reichenbach’s model
Tim is playing in the garden.
Tim went on holiday last year.
ST – NOW

11. General framework: Reichenbach’s model
Tim is playing in the garden (now)
1=PRESENT CONTINUOUS
RT = present
2. Tim worked in this house last year.
2= PAST SIMPLE
RT=past
RT is the time indicated by the sentence (past/present/future)

12. General framework: Reichenbach’s model
RT is established by the combination of tense (tense affixes) and adverbial(s), which are supposed to establish compatible relational values

13. General framework: Reichenbach’s model
Terry came here yesterday. RT – ed (came), yesterday Ross came tomorrow. RT – ???? Came (past) + tomorrow (present) If they have contradictory values the combinations cannot establish RT.

14. General framework: Reichenabach’s model
Tenses are defined as ST/RT/ET configuration ordered by operations of simultaneity or sequentiality (anteriority/posteriority)

15. General framework: Reichenbach’s model
ET = the moment at which the event occurs

16. General framework: Reichenbach’s model
The value of a temporal expression is the result of the relation of order established between ST/RT/ET. ET and ST are pragmatically observable, while RT is the abstract moment of time postulated by the linguist, mediating between ST and ET

17. Abstract temporal representation senten
Tim is playing in the garden (now) ST=NOW RT =present RT= ST (RT includes ST) ET=RT Tim went on holiday last year. ST = NOW RT= -ed, last year RT before ST

18. ATR
Tim is playing in the garden (now) RT= ST ET=RT Tim went on holiday last year. RT before ST Tim went on holiday before midnight. ET =?

19. ATR
Tim went on holiday before midnight. RT before ST ET before RT Tim had already gone on holiday. ST=? RT=? ET=?

20. ATR
Tim had already gone on holiday. ST=NOW RT=-ed ET= had RT bef ST ET bef RT

21. ATR
Tim will visit the city next month. ST=? RT=? ET=?

22. ATR
Tim will visit the city next month. ST=NOW RT=will, next month ET=RT RT after ST

23. ATR
Tim will have eaten the cakes by then. ST= RT ET=

24. ATR
Tim will have eaten the cakes by then. ST=NOW RT= next month, future ET= have RT after ST ET before RT

25. ATR
Tim will have eaten the cakes by then. FUTURE PERFECT RT after ST (the reference component) ET before RT (the relation component)

26. CONCLUSIONS
The temporal specification of English sentences is given by means of tense inflections and temporal adverbials. Each tense can be analyzed in terms of two main components:
The reference component (RT and ST)
The relation component (ET and RT)