Lecture 6 Tense and Aspect

Lecture 6 Tense and Aspect 1. Simple Present 2. Simple Past 3. Present Progressive 4. Past Progressive 5. Present Perfective 6. Past Perfective 7. Present Perfective Progressive 8. Past Perfective Progressive 9. Means of expressing future time

7.1 Uses of simple present Timeless present Habitual present

1. Timeless Present Honesty is the best policy. A rolling stone gathers no moss. British people drink a lot of tea, while Americans drink more coffee.. This use of the simple present mostly applies to Stative Verbs

2) Habitual present • habits • skills • Customs • I usuallywork 9 to 5.Frequently, we have lunch out. • Expressions for frequency: always, most of the time, usually sometimes , half of the time , often , frequently occasionally, rarely, seldom, hardly, ever, never • 11A

7.2 Uses of simple past • 1) Past event and past habit • He left ten minutes ago.This town was a beauty spot . In those days they sowed wheat by hand.He worked in a bank all his life.

2) hypothetical past • In this use, the simple past refers not to a fact but to a non-fact, and is typically found in that-clauses following such constructions as “it’s time…”, “I wish…”, “I’d rather…”.etc, and in adverbial clauses of rejected condition, ie a condition which is not likely to be fulfilled, eg: • It’s time you had a holiday.I wish you lived closer to us. • 11B&C

7.3Uses of present progressive • 1) to denote an action in progress at the moment of speaking • A: what are you doing?B: I’m writing a letter. Compare: • He lives in Luoyang. (Permanent residence)He is now living in Luoyang. (Temporary residence)

To denote an action in progress at a period of time including the present. • Compare: • He works in a chemical factory.He is working in a chemical factory these days. • Note that the present progressive when accompanied by an adverbial of frequency such as always, continually, constantly, or disapproval. By contrast, the simple present lacks the subjective, emotional tone of the present progressive and states a fact objectively. Compare: • She complains about the house.She is constantly complaining about the house.

To denote a future happening according to a definite plan or arrangement. • Mr. Cameron is leaving china in a few weeks.I’m going to Qingdao for the summer holiday. • 11D

7.4 Uses of past progressive • To denote an action in progress at a definite point or period of past time • eg: • What were you doing yesterday at seven p.m.?They were building a dam last winter.

To denote a past habitual action • George was getting up at five every day that week. • As in the case of the present progressive, the past progressive can also collocate with such adverbial of frequency as always, constantly, continually, forever, to express emotional feelings, especially feelings of annoyance or disapproval on the part of the speaker, eg: • My brother was always losing his keys. • 11E,F&G

7.5 Uses of present perfective two chief uses: “finished” use and “unfinished” use. • The finished use refers to the present result of a past event still operative at the present moment. • The “unfinished” use of the present perfective denotes that an action or state extends over a period lasting up to the present moment, possibly extending into the future as well.

Compare:He’s turned off the light. (The light is still off now.)He’s lived here since 1960. (“The period of residence extends either to the present---the usual interpretation----or to some specified date in the past.”)

Henry has got married for six years. • Henry got married six years ago. • Henry has been married for six years.

7.6 Uses of Present perfective progressive • The use of the present perfective progressive ( have / has been + -ing participle) has much in common with the “unfinished” use of the present perfective. • Compare:I’ve been writing letters for an hour ( and I’ve still got some more to do).I’ve been sitting in the garden (and have just come indoors). • In many cases these two forms can be used interchangeably:We’ve been living here for ten years.We’ve lived here for ten years.

Pp VS. ppp • 1. Pp: finished • Ppp: duration and repetition • I have thought it over. • I have been thinking it over. • 2. love, know等只用PP. • He has loved Helen since he was in middle school.

Using the Present Perfect: Present Perfect or Simple Past? 1. Dolphins ________ in BC waters for millions of years, and are still common today. A. have lived B.lived 2. I ________ my binder yesterday, but my brother found it this morning. B.lost A.have lost 3. The Titanic ________ in 1912. A.has sunk B.sunk 4. We ________ this TV set since 1968, and it still works! A.have owned B.owned

Using the Present Perfect: Present Perfect or Simple Past? 5. This wine ________ in the cellar for 15 years. When we take it out and open it, it will taste beautiful! A. has been B. was 6. He ________ when his girlfriend left him, but he's OK now. A. has cried B. cried 7. I ________ some new shorts, but I don't think I like them. Maybe I'll take them back to the store. A. have bought B. bought 8. I ________ these boots to go hiking yesterday. A. have worn B. wore

Present Perfective vs. Simple Past 意图决定形式 Present Perfective说明现在,强调结果,影响 Simple Past 只涉及过去,与现在无关 1. 如果你已讲完,我想接着讲2. 不知我刚才发言时你是否讲完了 A. Did you finish? B. Have you finished? A. Who was here while I was out? 3. 发现有人来过,东西被动了. 4. 一般提问 B. Who’s been here while I was out? 5. 认真提出问题,且对方仍在生气 A. What have I done to make him so angry? 6. 过去生气现在则不一定 B. What did I do to make him so angry? My chief purpose has been to find out a real solution.My chief purpose was to find out a real solution.

7.7 Uses of Past Perfective (progressive) Just time reference back-shifted to a specified past moment. Also “finished” use “unfinished” use I’d worked for three hours when he called. 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 Past Now Future I worked I worked I worked He called. I say…

Using the Present Perfect Tense: FOR or SINCE? FOR or SINCE? Using the Present Perfect Tense: FOR or SINCE ? 1. Maya has been a professional singer ________ 1989. SINCE 2. So far, it has rained ________ five hours. FOR 3. I haven't been snowboarding ________ last winter. SINCE 4. Jo has been a student here ________ March. SINCE FOR 5. The beaver has been an emblem of Canada ________ many years. P206-220, 12A,B,C,D,E,F,G

The children ______pestering me to take them to the zoo these days. • A. have kept B. are keeping C. keep D. kept • The telephone ______ four times in the past hour, and each time it _____ for him. • A. has rung; was B. has been ringing; is • C. had rung; was D. rang; has been • As she is out of work, Lucy ____ going back to school, but she hasn’t decided yet. • A. has considered B. has been considering • C. considered D. is going to consider • I ______ to come to the meeting on time, but I was held up on the way to it. • A intended B should have intended • C had intended D would have intended • – Has Sam finished his homework today? -- I have no idea. He _______ it this morning. • A was doing B has done C did D had done

1. When I arrived at the meeting, the first speaker _____ and the audience _____. (TEM4-1992-47) • A. had finished speaking, were clapping • B. had finished speaking, had clapped • C. finished speaking, clapped • D. finished speaking, were clapping • 2. How can I ever concentrate if you _____ continually _____ me with silly questions? (TEM4-1997-41) • A. have …interrupted B. had …interrupted • C. are…interrupting D. were…interrupting • 3. For some time now, world leaders _____ out the necessity for agreement on arms reduction. (TEM4-2002-43) • A. had been pointing B. have been pointing • C. were pointing D. pointed • 4. Jack _____ from home for two days now, and I am beginning to worry about his safety. (TEM4-2003-42) • A. has been missing B. has been missed • C. had been missing D. was missed

5. _____ conscious of my moral obligations as a citizen. (TEM4-2005-55) A. I was and always will be B. I have to be and always will be C. I had been and always will be D. I have been and always will be • 6. That was not the first time he _____ us. I think it’s high time we _____ strong actions against him. (TEM4-2005-60) • A. betrayed…take B. had betrayed…took • C. has betrayed…took D. has betrayed…take • 7. The student said there were a few points in the essay he _____ impossible to comprehend. (TEM4-2006-55) • A. has found B. was finding C. had found D. would find • 8. He would have finished his college education, but he _____ to quit and find a job to support his family. (TEM4-2007-60) • A. had had B. has C. had D. would have

2009.65. "The man preparing the documents is the firm's lawyer" has all the following possible meanings EXCEPT • A. the man who has prepared the documents... • B. the man who has been preparing the documents... • C. the man who is preparing the documents... • D. the man who will prepare the documents...

Means of Expressing Future Time • In its long history, English has not developed a special verb form that might be rightly labeled FUTURE TENSE corresponding to the time tense parallel for present and past. There are a number of constructions that can be used to denote futurity in English. The present lecture will deal with these future expressions.

Constructions denoting future time • In English, future time is expressed by means of modal auxiliaries, by semi-auxiliaries, or by the simple present and present progressive forms. • 1）Will/shall+ infinitive • the future meanings expressed by these auxiliaries are very often coloured by modal meanings from prediction to intention and volition, eg: • You will feel better after taking this medicine.I ’m sure I shan’t lose my way in the woods.I promise to pay him back in time, but he won’t lend it to me

2) Be going to+ infinitive • This construction is usually used to express two meanings; intention and prediction. Compare: • He’s going to be a doctor when he grows up.He’s not going to cheat me again (= I won’t let him cheat me again).

I believe China will become one of the richest country in the world. • If you are going to attend the meeting, you’d better leave now.

3) Present progressive • Its basic meaning is an action that will happen in the near future according to a present arrangement, plan .or programme. • As a future form, the present progressive is widely used with verbs of movement from one place to another such as go, come , leave, start; arrive, etc, though also applicable to other dynamic verbs, eg: • We’re leaving on FridayWe’re moving to a different hotel the day after tomorrow.I’m spending my holidays in Switzerland this year.

Mary and Jane are going to meet tonight. • Mary and Jane are meeting tonight.

4) Simple present • The future use of the simple present is more frequent in dependent, especially conditional and temporal, clauses than in main clauses, eg: • If she comes, I’ll tell her all about it.It won’t be long before the rain stops. • In main clauses, the simple present refers to an immutable future event predetermined by a timetable or a schedule which is very definite and unalterable, eg: • She retires next month.Tomorrow is Saturday.Next Christmas falls on a Thursday.

5) Will/shall + progressive/perfective infinitive • If we want to express a colourless, pure future, we can use “will/shall + progression infinitive” This construction usually implies an action which will occur in the normal course of events without any human involvement, ie without being coloured by volition or intention: • The train will be arriving at two o’clockI shall be writing to you soon.Will you be going home next weekend?

6) Be to +infinitive • a future happening based on a present plan or arrangement , eg: • I am to have tea with Betty this afternoon.There’s to be an investigation. • in newspapers, and in headlines with verb be often omitted to save space, • eg: The Queen is to visit Japan next year. • Another use is to convey orders, instructions, or prohibitions; it can also connote possibility or destiny, eg: • You are to stand here. Do you understand?Tell her she’s not to be back late.The dictionary is not to be had here.

7) be about + infinitive • The talk is about to begin. • It’s about to rain.

I will sail for the desert land. • I am going to sail for the desert land. • I sail for the desert land. • I am sailing for the desert land. • I am to sail for the desert land. • I am about to sail for the desert land. • I will be sailing for the desert land. • P.227, 13A

Means of expressing past future • Would do • Was/were going to • Was/were doing • Did • Was/were about to do • P.234,13B

I _____ writing the paper as scheduled, but my mother’s illness interfered. I hope you will excuse me. (TEM4-1993-54) A. am to have finished B. was to have finished • C. was to finish D. ought to finish • 2. The committee has anticipated the problems that _____ in the road construction project. (TEM4-2007-58) • A. arise B. will arise C. arose D. have arisen • 3.James has just arrived, but I didn’t know he _____ until yesterday. (TEM4-2005-54) • A. will come B. was coming • C. had been coming D. came

-- Look, Tom is in low spirits. It is said that he didn’t pass the exam again. • -- Just take it easy. He ______ it, as has often been the case. • A gets over B got over • C has got over D will get over • At this time tomorrow we _______ over the Atlantic. • A are going to fly B are to fly • C will fly D will be flying • It ______ long before China _____ on the moon. • A isn’t; will land B won’t be; will land • C wasn’t; landed D won’t be; lands

The door was open. • It _____ open. I had locked it myself and the key was in my pocket. (TEM4-1992-48) • A. can’t be B. mustn’t be C. can’t have been D. mustn’t have been • 2. – I bought this shirt for 35 yuan yesterday. • – It’s on sale today for only 30. You should have waited. • – Oh really? But how _____ I know? (TEM4-1993-48) • A. would B. can C. did D. do • 3. She must be in the dormitory now. • No, she _____ be there. I saw her in the classroom a minute ago. (TEM4-1994-59) • A. mustn’t B. can’t C. couldn’t D. wouldn’t • 4. He _____ the 8:20 bus because he didn't leave home until 8:25. (TEM4-1994-64) • A. couldn’t have caught B. ought to have caught • C. shouldn’t have caught D. must not have caught • 5. The meeting has been cancelled. Ann _____ all that work. (TEM4-1995-55) • A. need to do B. need have • C. needn’t have done D. needed not to do • 6. We could _____ him with a detached house when he came, but he had specifically asked a small flat. (TEM4-1995-62) • A. provide B. have provided • C. not provide D. not have provided • 7. As it turned out to be a small house party, we ______ so formally. (TEM4-1996-49) • A. need not have dressed up B. must not have dressed up • C. did not need to dress up D. must not dress up • 8. You _____ Mark anything. It was none of his business. (TEM4-1998-52) • A. needn’t have told B. needn’t tell • C. mustn’t have told D. mustn’t tell • 9. He _____ unwisely, but he was at least trying to do something helpful. (TEM4-1999-48) • A. may have acted B. must have acted • C. should act D. would act • 10. Much as _____ I couldn’t lend him the money because I simply didn’t have that much spare cash. (TEM4-1999-52) • A. I would have liked to B. I would like to have • C. I should have to like D. I should have liked to • 11. I went there in 1984, and that was the only occasion when I _____ the journey in exactly two days. (TEM4-2005-57) • A. must make B. must have made • C. was able to make D. could make • 12. _____ you _____ further problems with your printer, contact your dealer for advice. (TEM4-2005-63) • A. If, had B. Have, had C. should, have D. In case, had • 13. Loudspeakers were fixed in the hall so that everyone _____ an opportunity to hear the speech. (TEM4-2006-56) • A. ought to have B. must have C. may have D. should have • 14. I am surprised _____ this city is a dull place to live in. (TEM4-2006-57) • A. that you should think B. by which you are thinking • C. that you would think D. with what you were thinking • 15. “You _____ borrow my notes provided you take care of them,” I told my friend. (TEM4-2007-53) • A. could B. should C. must D. can • 16. She _____ fifty or so when I first met her at the conference. (TEM4-2007-53) • A. must be B. had been C. could be D. must have been

Lecture 6 Tense and Aspect