1、nowPAST TIMEFUTURE TIMEpreceding nowfollowing nowPRESENT TIMEincluding nowOn this semantic level of interpretation, present is the most general and unmarked category. Albatrosses were large birds.The speaker does not commit himself to the continuation of the past state of affairs it describes into t

2、he present, while it does not exclude the possibility of such a continuation. It is possible to assert: Albatrosses were, are, and always will be large birds. 第1頁/共54頁Basic concepts: tense and aspect One way of expressing the notion of time linguistically is by means of tense. Aspect is a grammatica

3、l term indicates whether an action or state at a given time is veiwed as completed or incomplete.第2頁/共54頁Tense Present tense Past tenseAspect Progressive aspect Perfective aspect (Perfective progressive aspect)第3頁/共54頁Referring to the Referring to the presentpresent第4頁/共54頁 Eternal present Habitual

4、behavior Temporary habit Momentary behavior Instantaneous behavior Behavior of the present moment第5頁/共54頁Eternal truths Using the simple present to the stative verbs to express eternal truths or proverbs, as well as in scientific, mathematical, geographical and other statements made for all time. E.

5、g. Honesty is the best policy. A rolling stone gathers no moss. Authors often use a kind of timeless present in addressing their readers about the contents of their books. E.g. The last example shows that第6頁/共54頁Habitual behavior Using the simple present to dynamic verbs to express habitual or recur

6、rent present. e.g. Father doesnt smoke. Percy often goes to his office by underground.Verbs of stative meaning may sometimes be used in a habitual sense when accompanied by a frequency adverbial:E.g. She is seldom alone. Using the present progressive to express a temporary habit.e.g. Hes working in

7、a chemical factory these days.第7頁/共54頁Momentary vs. Instantaneous behavior INSTANTANEOUS PRESENT occurs where the verb refers to a single action begun and completed approximately at the moment of speech. 1) some cases are bound to be simultaneity between the event described and the speech event itse

8、lf. e.g. I resign. 2) In other cases, there is an implication of simultaneity which gives the utterance with the instantaneous present a somewhat theatrical quality. e.g. Carlos wins! 第8頁/共54頁 Rather restricted situations occur 1) commentaries: Fernandez shoots! 2) demonstrations and other self-comm

9、entaries: I enclose a form of application. 3) special exclamatory sentences with initial adverbials: Here comes the winner! 4) performatives: apologize, advise, request, predict, etc.第9頁/共54頁 Using the simple present to stative verbs to express a momentary phenomenon existing at the time of speaking

10、e.g. Whats the matter with you? You look pale. Using the simple present to dynamic verbs to denote instantaneous actions.e.g. I declear the meeting open.Haper passes the ball to Jenning; Jennings shoots and the goalkeeper leaps for it but - yes, its a goal.第10頁/共54頁Behaviors of the present moment Us

11、ing the present progressive to durative dynamic verbs to denote what is going on at the present moment. E.g. - What are you doing? - Im writing a letter.第11頁/共54頁Referring to the Referring to the pastpast第12頁/共54頁 Habitual behavior Temporary habits Immediate vs. Historic At a definite point or perio

12、d of time state exists action in completion action in progressive Information received in the past present effect present result第13頁/共54頁Habitual behavior Using the simple past to denote a habitual or recurrent action in the past.e.g.In those days they sowed wheat by hand.He worked in a bank all his

13、 life.第14頁/共54頁Temporary habit Using the past progressive to denote a temporarily habitual action in the past. E.g. George was getting up at five every day that week.第15頁/共54頁Immediate vs. Historic Communicative verbs such as “tell, talk, say, exaggerate” with the present progressive to denote an ac

14、tion in the immediate past.e.g. I dont know what you are talking about.say, understand, hear, learn with the simple present, the simple past, present perfectiveMartin tells me the Smiths are moving from No. 20.Braham is/was the last great representative of German classicism.The Book of Genesis speak

15、s of the terrible fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.第16頁/共54頁 Historic present describing the past as if it is happening now: conveying sth. Of the dramatic immediacy of an eye-witness account, such as story-telling, news reporting, to add vividness to the description e.g. I was just dozing off in front of

16、 the television when my wife rushes in shouting that the kitchen is on fire.第17頁/共54頁At a definite point or period of time in the past Using the simple past to denote an event/state happened or existed at a definite point or period of time in the past.e.g. He left 10 minutes ago. Using the past perf

17、ective to denote a state/action in completion before a specific past.e.g. I had written the article when he came. Using the past progressive to denote an event/action in progress at a definite point or period of time in the past.E.g. What were you doing yesterday at 7pm?第18頁/共54頁Information received

18、 in the past Commucative verbs such as “tell, say, hear, learn, write” with the simple present to express the present effect of information received in the past.e.g. Alice tells me youre entering college next year. I hear poor old Mrs. Smith has lost her son. The finished use of the present perfecti

19、ve to refer to the present result of a past event still operate at the present moment.第19頁/共54頁Referring to the Referring to the futurefuture第20頁/共54頁 The plane leaves for Ankara at 8 oclock tonight. The simple present suggests that the event is unalterably fixed in advance. Usu. The future usage of

20、 the simple present is in dependent clause, e.g. Hell do it if you pay him.第21頁/共54頁 I hope that I bet that see to it/make sure/make certain, etc. if/when + conditional/temporal clause Using the present progressive to denote distant future, which is connected with a definite plan,arrangement or prog

21、rammee.g. Ill think about it while youre writing the report. if you are standing at the corner, Ill give you a lift. Using the past progressive to denote a future action in the past according to a plan or arrangement, which is found in some adverbial clauses of time or condition.e.g. They were leavi

22、ng a few days later.第22頁/共54頁Referring to Referring to continuous continuous actionsactions第23頁/共54頁 Using the present progressive to momentary verbs to express repetition or a series of momentary actions With the unfinished use of the present perfective (progressive) to denote an action/state exten

23、ds over a period lasting up to the present moment, possibly extending into the future. e.g. Hes turned off the light. Hes lived here since 1960.Using the past perfective to denote an action/state over a period up to a past moment and possibly into the future in the past.e.g. By 6 oclock they had wor

24、ked 12 hours.第24頁/共54頁 Using the perfective aspect accompanied by “since-phrase/clause”1)since-clause with the simple past of non-continual dynamic verbs to refer to a continuous state/action from a point in past time till now.e.g. I havent seen him since his wedding day/since I met you.2)since-clau

25、se with the present perfective of continuous dynamic verbs/ stative verbsTo refer to the continuous action or state extends up to the present moment.e.g. He has written to me frequently since I have been ill.第25頁/共54頁3) since-clause with the simple past of dynamic verb of continuous activity or of s

26、tative verb to refer to the end/completion of a continuous state/actione.g. He has written to me frequently since I was ill.第26頁/共54頁Other usagesOther usages第27頁/共54頁 Collocating the progressive with such adverbials of frequency as “always, constantly, continuously, forever”, to express emotional fe

27、elings(annoyance, disapproval, etc.) on the part of the speaker.e.g. My brother was always losing his keys.She is constantly complaining about the house.第28頁/共54頁The attitudinal past Using the past to independent clauses to express a question, request or suggestion so as to make it less direct, and

28、thus implying a polite, tentative attitude on the part of the speaker.e.g. -Did you want me? - Yes, I wondered if you could give me some help.Using the present progressive is still politer.e.g. Im hoping youll give us some advice. Im wondering if I may have a word with you.第29頁/共54頁The hypothetical

29、past Using the simple past to denote a non-fact in constructions “its time, I wish, Id rather”, and in a conditional clause which is not likely to be fulfilled.e.g. Id rather you went now. If I had the money now, Id buy a car. Its time you had a holiday. I wish you lived closer to us.Using the past progressive to express hypothetical meanings in c