Lecture 11  Tense and Aspect (I)

I. Tense: Simple present and simple past tense

1.       The basic and non-basic uses of the simple present tense.

The simple present—A present, present habitual and timeless situation (basic)

a past/future event or situation (non-basic)

2.         The basic and non-basic uses of the simple past tense.

The simple past— a past situation   (basic)

                         a present/future situation (non-basic)

Try to explain the use of the simple present tense in each case.

1)        He said that I need not take the trouble to meet him at the station. (no past tense form for must, ought to, need, dare)

2)        I learn from her letter that she’s going abroad next month. (referring to the past time, and therefore may be replaced by heard or have heard; usu. found with communication verbs such as say, tell, hear, learn, gather, write, etc.)

3)        I was just walking down the street when a man grabs my hand bag and runs off quickly. (The use of the historical present or dramatic present to refer to the past to make the description more vivid.)

4)        They smile/are smiling brilliantly in the picture. ( used in the description of a film, play, picture, etc.)

5)        American scholar leaves Beijing. (used in a newspaper title)

6)        Darwin (1809-1882) thinks that natural selection(自然淘汰) is the chief factor in the development of species(物种发展). ( used in the quotation of a dead person; used in such verbs as say, teach, stress, discuss, think, etc.)

7)        I hope you have a pleasant journey. (indicating a future event) “I hope you will have a pleasant journey” is also possible.

8)        Please make sure/see to it that all the windows are closed before you leave the classroom.

9)        The train leaves in an hour. Let’s hurry. (a future event that is fixed)

10)     Write to me as soon as you reach Beijing. (a future event/state in a subordinate clause of time, condition, reason, etc.)

Try to explain the use of the simple past tense in each case.

1)        Did you wish to see me now? (attitudinal past态度过去时. The attitudinal past referring to the present / future, more tactful and less direct, implying a polite, somewhat tentative attitude of the speaker; restricted to such verbs as wish, wonder, want, hope, think, etc.)

2)        Could you do me a favor? (a more tentative tone, used with can, may,  will, etc.)

3)        I’m sorry; I didn’t know you were here. (The past time is understood from the situational context, not from the linguistic context.)

4)        I’d rather you were here together with me/you went tomorrow.(Used together with wish/as if/as though/it’s time/would rather to indicate a present/future event/fact.)

II. Aspect: the progressive

The progressive is basically used to indicate an ongoing event at the present or in the past.

But a present progressive—a recent past event, as in “What are you talking about?”

                                      —a future event, as in “Are you going to the movies tonight?”

A past progressive—a past habitual event, as in “He was always smoking a lot.”

                       —a present situation, as in “I was hoping you could come to join us.”

                       —a past future event, as in “They were leaving a few days later.”

1.  Tell the difference between the simple aspect and the progressive aspect.

The progressive aspect: a temporary situation; the simple aspect: a constant situation

1)      He works in a business firm. (referring to the present in the general sense)

He is working in a business firm. (referring to what is going on over a period of time including the present, but not necessarily at the moment of speaking)
More similar cases:

2)      He lives in shanghai. vs. He is living in shanghai.

3)      We start work at 8 o’clock. vs. We are starting at 7 for this week.

4)      He is foolish. vs. He is being foolish.

5)      The river smells bad. vs. The river is smelling bad today.

6)      The statue stands in the center of the square. vs. The statue is standing in the center of the square.

The progressive aspect: a unfinished situation; the simple aspect: a finished situation

7)      The dog died. vs. The dog was dying.

8)      She was losing her temper. vs. She lost her temper.

9)      I was reading a novel yesterday. (unfinished) vs. I read a novel yesterday. (finished)

The progressive aspect: an ongoing unfinished situation; the simple aspect: a finished situation

10)   Apples cost much these days. vs. Apples are costing more these days.

11)   He resembles his father. vs. He is resembling his father as the years go by.

the simple tense & aspect: constant      the progressive aspect: changing

Some other differences

1)      It rained last night. (a past fact/action)
It was raining last night. (duration/continuous)—different emphasis

2)      He forever displeases people.
He is forever displeasing people. (emotional use; often showing approval or disapproval; accompanied by always, continually, frequently, constantly, forever, etc.)—different emotional colorings

3)      When we arrived, she made a big cake.

When we arrived, she was making a big cake.—different temporal relations

4)      I wonder if I may have a word with you.

I wondered if I might….

I’m wondering if I may ….

I was wondering if I might …. (the most polite form)—different tones

(attitudinal use; used to make a polite request or tentative suggestion)