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Lecture 2: Tenses of Finite Verbs

Graduate Entrance Examination English study notes: Lecture 2: Tenses of Finite Verbs. Original examples, diagrams, and exercises are retained.

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Graduate Entrance Examination EnglishEnglish GrammarSimple Sentences
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2.1 Changes in finite verbs

Concept: Finite verb inflection

  • Three dimensions:
  • Tense
  • Modality
  • Voice
  • Negation:
  • Affirmative vs. negative form
  • Emphasis:
  • Emphatic do/does/did
  • Note:
  • A finite verb phrase may contain several words, but the entire phrase functions as one predicate;

2.2 Tense of finite verbs

This part is the most important, because every finite verb must have a tense

2.2.1 What is Tense?

The Concept of Tense

  • In this course, a tense form is analyzed as time reference + aspect;

How to represent tense?

  • Tense and aspect are expressed through the form of the finite verb phrase;

How many tenses are there in total?

  • Traditional teaching combines four time references with four aspects to present sixteen forms;
  • Illustration:
  • Study-note illustration: 2.2.1 What is Tense?

2.2.2 How to Choose Tense

Analysis Method: Two Steps -> First time, then state

  • First, analyze the timing of the action;
  • Reanalyze the state in which the action occurs;

2.2.3 Eight Core Tenses

2.2.3.1 Simple Tenses

  • The simple aspect does not mark an event as progressive or perfect;

Simple Past Tense

  • Finite verb = $did$
  • Meaning: actions that happened in the past, things that happened entirely in the past;

Simple Present Tense

  • Finite verb = $do/does$
  • Meaning:
  • 1. Present states and general truths;
  • 2. Habits, repeated events, and regular occurrences;
  • Which subjects use the third person singular?
  • he, she, or it;
  • A singular uncountable noun;
  • A singular countable noun;
  • Example:
  • The goal is new-search, not re-search.
  • Each year researchers publish millions of papers in more than 30000 journals
  • Because every year new papers are published -> at a certain frequency, continuously -> Therefore, here is the simple present tense;

Simple Future

  • Finite verb = $shall + do\text{ or } will + do \text{ or } am、is、are + going + to + do$
  • Meaning:
  • 1. Refers to an event or state after the present;
  • 2. will and be going to can differ in context:
  • am, is, are going to do: pre-planned;
  • Will do: a last-minute decision (Will carries emotional willingness, indicating willingness);
  • 3. shall is uncommon in modern general usage and is rarely tested;
  • Example:
  • The problems will be different.

Future in the Past

  • Finite verb = $would+do \text{ or } was、were + going + to + do$
  • Meaning:
  • 1. Describes a future event viewed from a past reference point;
  • 2. It often appears with a simple-past reporting or narrative verb;
  • Example:
  • They gave justices permanent positions so they would be free to upset those in power...
  • gave: simple past;
  • would be: future in the past, viewed from the time when the positions were granted;

2.2.3.2 Progressive tense

Progressive Tense

  • Indicates that it is ongoing or actually underway;
  • All are $be+doing$

Past Continuous Tense

  • Meaning: An action was in progress at a past time;
  • Finite verb = $was、were + doing$
  • Example:
  • He was searching for tiny engraved seals...
  • The search was ongoing at the relevant past time;

Present Continuous Tense

  • Meaning: An action or situation is in progress around the present;
  • Finite verb = $am、is、are + doing$

Future Tense

  • Meaning:
  • 1. Very few are tested;
  • 2. Events that are ongoing or will happen at some point in the future;
  • Finite verb = $will+be+doing$

2.2.3.3 Perfect Tense

What the Perfect Aspect Expresses

  • The perfect relates an earlier situation to a later reference point;
  • It may describe a completed event, a resulting state, or a situation continuing up to the reference time;

Unified Formula for Perfect Tense

  • Finite verb = $have + done$

Past Perfect Tense

  • Meaning: Standing at a point in the past, looking before -> Standing in the past looking before;
  • Core: Standing in the past, looking at past events;
  • Present - (Past - Past of the Past) < - The content of this time period;
  • Finite verb: $had + done$
  • Example:
  • The interviewers had rated applicants on a scale of one to five.
  • The ratings occurred before another past reference point in the context;
  • he expressed the opinion that in two or three respects his mind had changed during the preceding twenty.
  • Ideas have already changed before expressing their views;
  • Simple past tense VS past perfect tense
  • Similarities
  • All represent actions that occurred in the past;
  • Difference
  • Simple past locates an event in the past;
  • Past perfect locates an event before another past reference point;

Present Perfect (emphasis)

  • Meaning: Viewed from the present, the present perfect links an earlier situation to the present;
  • Finite verb = $have、has+done$
  • Example:
  • The ethical judgments of the Supreme Court justices have become an important issue recently.
  • Common situation: The present perfect often includes an adverb to emphasize -> $already、just、ever、never、also、long$;
  • Present perfect VS simple past tense
  • 1. Use the simple past with a finished past-time expression; use the present perfect when the time period or present relevance remains open;
  • Core in the present: emphasizes it has an impact on the present, present perfect: He has left, so I cannot find him now;
  • Core past: occurred in the past, simple past tense: He left two hours ago;
  • 2. For a situation that began in the past and continues now, the present perfect is normally required;
  • Doing this from the past to the present, and still ongoing: We have learned English for 15 years.

Future perfect tense (rarely appeared)

  • Meaning: Before the future, up to the future;
  • For example: to complete this task by the end of this year;
  • Finite verb = will have done
  • Example:
  • relaxation will be in front of smell-television, and digital age will have arrived

Summary

Study-note illustration: 2.2.3.3 Perfect Tense

Study-note illustration: 2.2.3.3 Perfect Tense

2.2.3.4 Perfect Progressive Aspect

Perfect Progressive

  • Meaning: Emphasizes duration or ongoing activity leading up to a reference point;
  • Finite verb = have been doing;

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

  • Finite verb = have/has been doing.

2.2.4 A good example

  • I love you
  • Simple present tense
  • I love you;
  • I loved you
  • Simple past tense
  • I loved you;
  • I will love you
  • I will love you
  • I have loved you
  • Present perfect tense
  • The state began before now and remains relevant now;
  • I had loved you
  • Past perfect tense
  • The loving occurred before another past reference point; the sentence alone does not state the present situation;

2.3 Past-Paper Practice

Question: The use of this little-known practice has accelerated in recent years...

  • The use of this little-known practice: a practice that is rarely used;
  • It has accelerated in recent years;

Title:Readers are migrating away from print anyway.

Question: But what will be the nature of that difference?

  • nature：
  • 1. Nature;
  • 2. Nature;

Question: Dr. Yehuda notes another difference between the sexes

  • Simple present tense;

Title:.... Lots of working folks had already seen signs of the slow down themselves

  • Past perfect tense;

Question: In recent years, railroads have been combining with each other...

  • Present perfect continuous tense;