Билет №12 Tense and Aspect. Indefinite and Continuous

THE PLAN:

Definition of the category of tense and aspect

The Use of the Present Indefinite Tense

The Use of the Present Progressive Tense

The Use of the Past Indefinite Tense

The Use of Past Progressive Tense

The Use of Future Indefinite Tense

The Use of Future Progressive Tense

Tense is a grammatical category that indicates the location of an event or situation in time. It is expressed in verbal morphology or with the help of auxiliary verbs (be and have) in combination with the non-finite forms of main verbs.

Aspect concerns the manner in which the situation denoted by a sentence is seen to develop in time. English distinguishes the progressive (continuous) aspect and the perfect aspect. However, one can refer to the time of a situation without formally indicating how the verbal action is developing. In this case the internal temporal structure of the situation is conveyed by the lexical meaning of the verb.

Tense and aspect are expressed in one and the same verbal form. The English verb has only two tenses proper — the present and the past, either simple (work(s), worked) or combined with the progressive (is/was working) or perfect (have/had worked) aspect. There are many ways of expressing future time in English. The most common is with the help of the modal auxiliaries will/ shall attached to a simple or complex (aspectual) form of the main verb.

(C) ESP

The Present Indefinite Tense

The Pr.Ind. is used to denote

I Habitual Actions (the core uses of the Pr. Ind.)

a) a regularly repeated action:

I normally go to bed around midnight.

b) an action characterizing a person, their skills, habits and abilities (with adverbial modifiers of frequency often, always, usually):

John smokes a lot. You speak very good English.

c) universal truths

Water freezes at 0 degrees Centigrade.

NB The sequence of tenses is not observed with this use:

The science teacher explained that water freezes at 0 degrees Centigrade.

II Actions going on at the moment of speaking (“momentary present”)

a) with verbs not normally found in the Continuous form:

I see what you mean.

b) with performative verbs – describing what the speaker is doing by uttering the sentence:

I declare the meeting open. I apologize.

c) if an action is not viewed in its progress; when the occurrence itself is named

How time flies!

Why do you talk back?

d) in particular types of discourse:

(1) in demonstrations:

I take a large apple. Now I peel it. Now I slice it with a sharp knife [NB The Present Continuous is also possible]

(2) in running commentaries:

The crowd moves closer to the building. Brown passes to Jones.

(3) in stage directions:

Sir Henry picks up his umbrella and leaves.

(4) In comic and cartoon strips:

The Wolf sings a song in a small voice [Present Cont. Possible]

(e) In set expressions:

Here he comes. There she goes. There goes the last bus. Here comes Mary.

III Future actions

1. In simple sentences

1. with verbs of motion and other groups of verbs, when the action is regarded as fixed (timetable, schedule, calendar, etc.)

My ship sails at 10. What time does the first class begin?

2. In special questions, when the speaker is asking for information or guidance:

Where do we go now? How do I fill out this form?

1. In complex sentences

1. in adverbial clauses of time

We’ll be married the moment we find a flat.

2. of condition

She won’t say a word unless she’s spoken to

3. of concession

You’ll have to do it, whether you like it or not / no matter how tired you are.

4. In other types of clauses joined with -ever compounds

Whoever comes here will be given a warm welcome.

5. In object clauses, after see (that) / see to it that, mind that, take care, make sure, I bet (AmE); after I hope the use of the Pr. Indefinite is optional.

See to it that the room is tidy.

I bet you miss your train.

I hope you find / will find a way out.

(6)In clauses of purpose and precaution, esp. after in case:

In case you get your dress dirty, put an apron on.

In case I forget all about it, send me a reminder.