Lecture11_Tense_and_Aspect_(I)

Lecture 11Tense and Aspect (I)

11.1 Uses of the simple present 11.2 Uses of the simple past11.3 Uses of the present progressive

11.4 Uses of the past progressive

11.1 Uses of the simple present

The simple present narrates complete events that will not continue to change or develop. It is not marked for the progressive or the perfective aspect, denoting the following meanings:

1) Timeless present It is often found in the expression of eternal truths and proverbs, as well as in scientific, mathematical, geographical and other statements made for all time. This use mostly applies to stative verbs. e.g. Honesty is the best policy.

Translate the following proverbs: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. A watched pot never boils. A barking dog never bites. No rabbit eats the grass near its own burrow. Bad news travels fast. Haste makes waste.

入乡随俗。 心急水不沸。 吠犬不咬人。 兔子不吃窝边草。 坏事传千里.欲速则不达。 2) Habitual present This use usually is typically associated with dynamic verb. e.g. Father doesn’t smoke. Percy often goes to his office by underground.

3) Momentary and instantaneous present A. The simple present can also be used to denote a momentary phenomenon that exists at the time of speaking. This phenomenon usually has some duration and therefore is mostly associated with stative verbs. e.g. What do you think, Jane?

B. The instantaneous present implies that the event takes place singly and oncefor-all within the moment of speaking. It has little or no duration and therefore is confined to dynamic verbs denoting short actions. e.g. I declare the meeting open This use is rather restricted, occurring normally in certain speech situations such as radio and television commentaries of

fast-moving sports, the running commentary of conjurors and demonstrators, and some formal declarations. 4) Simple present referring to the future: This use is limited to future events conceived of as “certain”, either because they are determined in advance by calendar or timetable, or because they are part of a plan

or an arrangement thought of as unalterable. Usually there is one time adverbial denoting the future time. e.g. I have a meeting next Wednesday at that time.

There are some subclauses used for future: a) I hope/ I bet + that + present tense e.g. I hope you have a good time.

b) see (to it)/make sure /make certain + that-clause e.g. I’ll see to it you don’t get lost. c) if/when + conditional/temporal clauses e.g. If it is fine tomorrow, we will go to the countryside. a.Besides temporal clauses and conditional clauses, adverbial clauses of concession, comparison usually use the simple present to denote future.

e.g. Whatever they say, I won’t pay. Next time I’ll do as he says. The harder you exercise, the better you’ll feel.

b. In addition, such nominal clause

s as “that” clause, “what” clause can also use the simple present to denote future. e.g. In a few minutes I’ll ask him what he wants tomorrow.

c. “Take care that” is distinguished from “hope that, bet that, see (to it) that”, in that it is always followed by the simple present. e.g. Take care that she doesn’t fall.

d. “When” can introduce adverbial clause of time and nominal clauses (subjective clauses, objective clauses). Verbs in the adverbial clauses must use the simple present instead of the future time.

e.g. When he comes, I tell him to fetch the police. So do verbs in conditional clauses. e.g. I shall tell him if he comes.

However, if “when” heads a nominal clauses, it depends on the specific context. e.g. Can you tell me when the bank opens? When she’ll be back depends much on the weather.

5) Simple present referring to the past This use is usually found with “communication verbs” such as tell, say, hear, learn, write to express the present effect of information received in the past. e.g. I hear poor old Mrs. Smith has lost her son.

11.2 Uses of the simple past The simple past also narrates complete facts/events that have already finished, but the core meaning of the sentence has a sense of distance. (time, concepts, social distance)

The simple past is not marked for the progressive or the perfective aspect, denoting the following meanings: