Simple Tenses Lecture 13 Tense l l l

Simple Tenses Lecture 13

Tense l l l Tense: a grammatical category of the finite verb forms Tense: it relates the time of the event/state represented by the verb to the time of the utterance (the speech moment, 'now'). Given the above definition of tense - two different tenses in English: present and past tense. It is marked by an inflection of the verb: David walks to school (present tense) David walked to school (past tense)

we do not refer to a "future tense" It is possible to refer to events in future time, but the verb morphology of English does not provide special tense forms for that. David will walk to school tomorrow David is going to walk to school tomorrow. l l Since the expression of future time does not involve any inflecton of the verb, we do not refer to a "future tense". Strictly speaking, there are only two tenses in English: present and past.

In English, the category of tense is based on the functional opposition of two sets of forms: past & non-past. l What have traditionally been regarded as tenses (in addition to present and past) should instead be regarded as combinations of tense and various semantic categories: perfective aspect, reference to future time. l past tense form - marked the non-past form – unmarked l

Meanings of the Present Tense Form present time reference 3. 1. Verbs of Non-state A. The present tense form of verbs of non-state denotes situations occurring over a period of time of various duration – : habitual use a. recurrent situations – they usually include adverbials of frequency: It often snows in January. He visits his parents every Sunday. b. habitual action/ event: He drives to work. Rivers run dry in summer. c. typical feature of the subject: He plays tennis very well. Oil floats on water. d. generalized statement: It never rains but it pours. Any fool knows that! e. instructions and directions: How do I get to the station? You activate the system by voice recognition.

B. The present tense form of verbs of non-state denotes situations coinciding with the moment of speaking – instantaneous use: a. sports commentaries: He shoots the ball straight at the goalkeeper. b. cases in which the situation reported and the act of speech are simultaneous because they are identical (Leech 1971): I swear on my life I was never at that place. c. exclamations: Here they come! d. demonstrations: I click ‘save’ and close the document. e. stage directions: …enters an elf…

3. 2. Verbs of State – unrestrictive 4 subgroups use A. Private state: The present simple (PS) form of verbs of sense perception denotes permanent feature of the subject: I don’t see well. The PS form of verbs of bodily sensation denotes situations taking place at the moment of speaking: Ouch! That really hurts! The PS form of verbs of emotion and attitude denote permanent feature of the subject: I like apples. The PS form of verbs of intellectual state may denote: a. permanent feature: I know this man. I believe in love at first sight. b. situation occurring at the present moment (=the moment of speaking): I understand. I believe you.

B. Quality: such verbs denote permanent state with reference to a present period of time: She has got blue eyes. C. Temporary state: these verbs denote situations at the moment of speaking: She is very disappointed with him. D. Stance: such verbs denote temporary state covering a period of time of various duration and including the moment of speaking: He is in the shower room. He is at school. He is in Australia. In subordinate clauses of time and clauses of condition the PS form denotes future time reference: He will help me, when he comes. If he comes, he will help me.

Meanings of the Past Tense Form The past tense form locates the verbal situation reported in a period of time before the moment of speaking. The past period or moment of time is usually specified in the sentence by means of an adverbial of time: She visited us in July. He went to Spain two years ago. The past moment or period of time may remain unspecified: He taught German for three years.

2. 1. Verbs of Non-state a. durative verbs usually denote a situation, which took place over a period of time: He lived in Spain in his youth. He worked for the Government in 1993. b. non-durative verbs may denote: - a single/momentary action or event: He closed the door and bolted it. The snow thawed.

- a succession of similar situations repeated over a past period of time + an adverbial of frequency: He sent a postcard home every weekend. It often rained in June. Without the adverbial of frequency the meaning of the past simple form will be interpreted as a single/momentary action or event: He sent a postcard home. It rained last night.

2. 2. Verbs of State a. The past simple form of verbs of quality denotes a situation over a past period of time; the period can be explicitly stated. She had dark hair and blue eyes. (when we first met) b. The past simple form of verbs of temporal state refer to situations in a past period of time (of various duration): She was very happy at school.

2. 2. Verbs of State c. The past simple form of verbs of private state can denote: - momentary state (verbs of sense perception): I saw him at the corner. - permanent state (verbs of intellectual state): I know him quite well. - temporary state of various duration (verbs of bodily sensation and of emotion/attitude): His leg hurt all day long. She liked the meal very much. d. The past tense forms of verbs of stance denote temporary situations of various duration: She was abroad during the academic year.

l l The past tense form implies that the moment of speaking is excluded from the period of the time during which the situation takes place. However, in conditional sentences and in reported speech the past tense form is usually used with non-past time reference.