Lecture 11 Tense and Aspect (I)

1. the simple present2. the simple past3. the present progressive 4. the past progressive

11.1 Uses of Simple PresentDefinition: The simple present is the present tense form which is not accompanied by the category of aspect, that is which is not marked for the progressive or the perfective aspect.

1) Timeless present

2) Habitual present

3) Momentary and instantaneous present

4) Referring to the future

5) Referring to the past

Uses

:

1. Timeless Present

Honesty is the best policy.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

London stands on the River Thames.

TimelessPresent

Eternal Truths

ProverbsScientific

facts

This use of the simple present mostly applies to Stative Verbs

2. Habitual Present Expressions

for"Frequency"

      

alwaysmost of the time usually sometimes half of the time often frequently occasionally rarely seldom hardly ever never

simple present - used when mentioning:

always (habits) "as long as I can remember" (customs)

• habits • skills • customs

I usually work 9 to 5.He often plays golf on Saturday.We always eat dinner together.Frequently, we have lunch out.We never eat breakfast together.

 implied time:

indicates permanence

3. Momentary and Instantaneous Present

What’s the matter with you? You look pale.

What do you think, Jane?

A. Momentary present (现时状态）

A momentary phenomenon that exists at the time of speaking.

• has some duration• associated with stative verbs

the event takes place singly and once-for-all within the moment of speaking.

B. Instantaneous Present (现在瞬间动作）：

• has little or no duration

Used in certain speech situations such as:• Always dynamic

a. Commentaries of fast-moving sports:

Harper passes the ball to Jennings; Jennings shoots and the goalkeeper leaps for it but – yes, it’s a goal.

(Conjuror:) Look, I take this card from the pack and place it under the handkerchief-so.

(Demonstrator:) Now I put the cake mixture into this bowl and add a drop of vanilla essence.

c. Some formal declarations:

b. The running commentary

I declare the meeting open.

4) Referring to the Futurefuture events conceived of as “certain”

if / when…

calendar timetable

plan arrangemen

tThree sub clauses:

I hope…I bet…

see to it…make sure…make certain…

I hope you have a good time.= I hope you will have a good time.

I’ll make sure you don’t get lost.=…you won’t get lost.

If it will be fine tomorrow, …

If it is fine tomorrow, we will go to the countryside

5) Simple Present Referring to the Past

a. Communication Verbstell, say, hear,

learn,

write

to express the present effect of information received in the past

Alice tells me you’re entering college next year.I hear poor old Mrs. Smith has lost her son.

b. Historic Present:

as a device of story-telling and news reporting to add vividness to the descriptionI was just dozing off in front of the television when my wife rushes in shouting that the kitchen is on fire.