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TOPIC 19. TIME AND TENSE. ASPECT AND MOOD
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2. TIME🕰️
- is a measured continuum that lacks spatial dimensions; a universal concept of all languages with 3 elements: past, present, future. It can be represented by a line divided into 2 parts: past and future, whose point of division is the present that is continually moving forward
- It establishes a temporal framework for actions or events.
The time to which English speakers refer is represented by Greenbaum & Quirk in the following Diagram
2.1. TENSE🔄
a grammatical category typically marked on the verb. It is the correspondence between the form of the verb and our concept of time. Tense refers to the time of the event or state denoted by the verb in relation to other temporal reference point.
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). 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
Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (2002). A Communicative Grammar of English
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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 (He was born in 1999)
- The preceding language context (He 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: Leech & Startvik (1975) distinguish 4 uses
- State leading up to the present time: it'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)
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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: since
- 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 sweets"
- 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)
- 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.
favours: Will you help me? yeah, Of course I will.
- The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: future events resulting from a present plan. This construction often suggests a near future: we're flying to London
- 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.
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⏳3. ASPECT = DURATION
grammatical category which refers to the flow and segmentation of time. It is is the way verbal action is experienced or regarded, 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.
- For Greenbaum & Quirk, it refers to an activity in progress, indicating limited duration, incompletion and simultaneity.
- verbs that typically take these aspects = denoting activities🚶🏻♂️ (working, walking, reading, drinking :champagne:) or processes (changing) :recycle:
- verbs denoting momentary events if used with the progressive suggest repetition: :recycle: nodding
- verbs :red_cross: that can't be used in the progressive aspect: state verbs know, understand :no_entry:
👌🏻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 :star:
- 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, :silhouette: complete action or event. :check:
: a grammatical category that expresses how an action/event/state, denoted by a verb, extends over time.
According to Greenbaum & Quirk (1990), aspect is the manner in which the verb action is regarded; the view taken on an event, whether it's seen as complete and whole (perfective aspect) or as an incomplete and ongoing (imperfective aspect)
4. MOOD : ATTITUDE
According to Zandvoort, it is a verbal 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, defined by Jespersen as the most neutrally mood to state a fact without any special attitude of mind. It's used in declarative sentences and in questions.
- imperative for commands and suggestions. It's a subjectless sentence containing a bare infinitive of the verb in the front position of the clause: Clean your bedroom!
- Subjunctive: described by Jespersen as something existing in the speakers' mind only and distinguishing between optative (intended/desired) and potential (statement/conception) subjunctives. Then, Zandvoort identified 3 different functions of the subjunctive in English: to express wishes, unreality and possibility. Additionally, Quirk & Greenbaum distinguished 2 basic forms of subjunctive: the present (base form) and the past (were-subjunctive). They (1990) proposed 2 main uses of subjunctive mood: mandative (to express obligation/necessity: "I demand you be quiet") or formulaic (ceremonial expressions, such as "God Bless you").
Jespersen, O. (1993). Essentials of English Grammar
Zandvoort, R. W. (1975). A Handbook of English Grammar.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Quirk, R. & Greenbaum, S. (1990). "A Student's 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.