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TOPIC 19. TIME AND TENSE. ASPECT AND MOOD - Coggle Diagram
TOPIC 19. TIME AND TENSE. ASPECT AND MOOD
INDEX
INTRODUCTION
MAIN CONCEPTS
2.1. TIME AND TENSE
A) PRESENT TIME
B) PAST TIME
C) FUTURE TIME
ASPECTS
3.1. CONCEPT
3.2. TYPES
A) NON-FINITE FORMS
MOOD
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES
2. MAIN CONCEPTS:
Time
is a
universal concept of all languages with 3 divisions: past, present, future
. It's a measured continuum that lacks spatial dimensions. It establishes a temporal framework for actions or events.
tense
is the correspondence between the
form of the verb and our concept of time
aspect
is the
way verbal action is experienced
or regarded
mood
relates the verbal action to such conditions
as certainty, obligation, necessity or possibility
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLADCI9aaYU
2.1. TENSE
grammatical category typically marked on the verb
. Verbs refer to an event (with a definite beginning+end. Example: get, hit) or to a state of affairs (which continues over a period. Example: be, live)
Tense refers to the
time of the event
or state denoted by the verb in relation to other temporal reference point.
According to
Leech & Svartvich
, the
distinction between state and event verbs is conceptual and a verb can change from one category to another
(
Did you remember me?
could refer either to a state or an event), which gives rise to the following
3 basic kinds of verb meaning
:
State
: "
Claudius was a Roman Emperor
"
Single
Event: "
William won the Battle of Hastings
"
habit
= state consisting of a series of repeated actions or events. It combines the event and state: "
I used to play football every day
". This is often specified by adding an adverbial of duration or frequency
A) PRESENT TIME
the main ways of referring to something that occurs at the present moment are:
The Simple Present Tense
As
Present state
: Do you like coffee?
General
truths
(state can comprise the past and future): "The sun rises in the east"
As present
event
(limited to sport commentaries, demonstrations): "Messi passes the ball to Cristiano"
Present
Habit
(events sequenced in a repetitive way): I wake up and meditate for 5 minutes
The Present Progressive
As
temporary present
: She's sleeping now
Limited as compared to permanent
duration: It's cloudy right now. It's always sunny in Malaga.
For Single events that involve a
limited time-span
, it emphasises the durational aspect of the event: "Nadal is serving"
Temporary
Habit
: it combines the temporary meaning with the repetitive meaning of the habitual present: I'm taking singing lessons this summer
Continuousness
: feeling of disapproval: My mind is always overthinking
Repetition
of temporary happenings by combining temporary and habitual meanings: he's dancing whenever I see him
Simple past tense for the present
: in special circumstances: "Did you want to speak to me?"
B) PAST TIME
: past tense is used when the past happening is related to a definite time in the past (then). He was sad then = now he's not.
In contrast, the perfect aspect is used for a past happening which is seen in relation to a later event or time: He's been depressed for years = he still is
- Simple Past Tense
refers to a definite time in the past, identified by:
A past time
adverbial
in the same sentence (Claudio was born in 1999)
The preceding language
context
(Trujo got engaged; it took us by surprise)
The
extralingual
context (Did the postman bring any letters? it is understood that he calls at a given time in the day)
A proper
noun
, because of its definite meaning it can provide the conditions for the past tense (Freddie was a great singer)
When no definite time then is apparent, speaker thinks of a definite time: "they told me you were ill"
A
gap
implied between the time referred to and the present moment
The present Perfect
: 4 related uses
State leading up to the present
time: that house's been empty for ages (it still is)
Independent
event(s) leading to the present
time: Have you ever been to France?
Habits still in the present
time: He's attended lectures regularly (this term)
4.
Past events with results in the present
time: My car's been broken
- The Past Perfect
indicates past in the past
:
The car had been unused for years when I bought it
When
describing one event following another in the past, we can show their relation
by using the past perfect for the earlier event or for both, and rely on the conjunction (when/after)
to show which event took place earlier
:
When/after I entered the room, she woke up
- Time Adverbials for past time
go
with the past tense indicating a finished point
or period of time in the past:
last night or on mondays
they
go with the present perfect form, indicating a period leading up to the present
or recent past time
State or habit in the past
Used to
for habits in the past as contrasted with the present: "
He used to travel every summer, now he can't afford it
".
Would
for a past habit with
predictable behaviour:
"
My grandmother would give me tons of food every weekend
"
The Simple Present with Past Meaning
: 2 circumstances
in
narrative when we want to describe events as vividly as if they were happening now
:
Then the policeman comes and stops the fight
with verbs of communication
, more strictly present perfect:
they tell me you have moved here.
- The Past Continuous Tense
to talk about
1. PAST TIME:
Actions in progress with stated time limits
:
I was studying from seven to two
Interrupted actions in progress
:
when they entered, I was eating
Irritation
:
She was always telling me off!
PRESENT TIME
in timed/
polite
questions:
I was wondering if... I was thinking you might..
C) FUTURE TIME
be going to + infinitive
tends to indicate the future as a fulfilment of the present.
Future resulting from a present intention
:
What are you going to do today? I'm going to study
future resulting from other causative factors
in the present: it can carry the expectation that the event will happen soon:
I think I'm going to vomit
(I already feel sick)
will/shall
with a 1st person subject can express the neutral future of
prediction
:
I think it will rain
common if-clause or
conditional
adverbial:
if/should you press the button, the lift will stop
With personal subjects it can also suggest
intention
:
I'll meet you at the station.
The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
:
future events resulting from a present plan
. This construction often suggests a
near future
:
we're flying to London
The Simple Present
:
used for the future in certain types of subordinate clause, especially adverbial time clauses and conditional clauses. The verb in the main clause includes will.
*Conjunctions that accompany the present tense: as long as, when, before, even, if, once, unless, until, once/When she arrives we will go
That-clauses following
hope
/assume/suppose can contain a verb in the present tense
referring to the future
:
I hope I pass the exam
Other expressions of future
Be to
signifies an
arrangement
for the future:
The Crown is to visit France.
Be about to, be on the verge/point of
, which emphasise the
nearness
of a future event:
CR7 is about to retire.
future in the past
was going to/ was about to
usually carries the
knowledge that the anticipated happening did not take place
:
They were just going to punish him when he escaped
was/were to
and would refer to the
fulfilled future in the past,
but they have a
literary style
:
He was to pay the debt in due time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViotAaOUR8M
3. ASPECT
= DURATION
grammatical category which refers to the flow and segmentation of time = relative to the
time of the utterance
3.1.
TYPES
OF ASPECTS
Progressive
realised by the auxiliary verb "to be" and the -ing ending added to the verb. It
refers to an activity in progress.
*Its main meanings are: (limited) duration and action not necessarily complete.
verbs
that typically take these aspects =
denoting activities
(walking, reading, drinking, working)
or processes
(changing)
verbs
denoting momentary events if used with the progressive suggest
repetition
: she was nodding
verbs that can't be used in the progressive aspect: state verbs know, understand
perfective
realised by the auxiliary verb
to have and the past participle
of the main verb.
Main meanings:
action started in the past is complete
, often has
current relevance
Perfect aspect expresses
general past
meaning
A) NON-FINITE FORMS
There are
three types of non-finite verbs
:
infinitives, gerunds, and participles
.
*these verbs have no tense, and can't express the difference between past tense and perfect aspect
Simple
: unmarked or with an -s for the third person of singular
indicates a single,
complete
action or event.
According to
, it's a grammatical category that expresses how an action, event, or state, denoted by a verb, extends over time. It shows whether an action is complete, ongoing, or repetitive
4. MOOD
: ATTITUDE
According to
Zandvoort
, it is a
grammatical category
which expresses a certain
attitude
of the speaker and also distinguishes
fact
and non-fact.
4.1. THREE TYPES OF MOOD IN ENG:
Indicative
or unmarked
imperative
for commands and suggestions. It's realised by placing a bare infinitive of the verb in the front position of the clause
: Clean your bedroom!
Subjunctive
: it uses past tense forms to talk about present events or actions.
Zandvoort
identified
3 different functions
of the subjunctive in English to express wishes, unreality and possibility.
Quirk distinguished 2 basic forms
of subjunctive: the present (base form) and the past (were-subjunctive). Quirk proposed
2 main uses
of subjunctive mood: mandative (to express obligation/necessity: "I demand you be quiet") or formulaic (related to formula or ceremonial expressions, such as "God Bless you").
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Quirk, R. (1985). "A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language"
Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (2002). A Communicative Grammar of English (3rd ed.). London: Routledge
Zandvoort, R. W. (1975). A Handbook of English Grammar.
