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Pkjoana709394 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
English Tense and Aspect
Hi, I am in a course about tense and aspect in english, I was wondering if you can give your opinion on the following classification of the italicised verb. I still think it is difficult to distinguish between tense and aspect.
They shared the house. A single wall separated their lives but if he placed his ear to it he could hear her move about. He became an expert at tracing her movements. When the radio was on he knew she was cooking. He knew when she was running a bath. He knew when the television was on and he pictured her coiled up on the floor with her feet tucked under her round bum, which is how he had once seen her when he came to collect the rent. Mr Watts had a sense of her life but couldn't get near her for that wall standing between them.
Shared: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Separated: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Was cooking: Tense = Past Continuous; Aspect = Progressive
Knew: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Was running: Tense = Past Continuous; Aspect = Progressive
Pictured: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Had seen: Tense = Past Perfect; Aspect = Perfect
Came: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Had: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Couldn’t get: Tense = Past ; Aspect = simple.
They shared the house. A single wall separated their lives but if he placed his ear to it he could hear her move about. He became an expert at tracing her movements. When the radio was on he knew she was cooking. He knew when she was running a bath. He knew when the television was on and he pictured her coiled up on the floor with her feet tucked under her round bum, which is how he had once seen her when he came to collect the rent. Mr Watts had a sense of her life but couldn't get near her for that wall standing between them.
Shared: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Separated: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Was cooking: Tense = Past Continuous; Aspect = Progressive
Knew: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Was running: Tense = Past Continuous; Aspect = Progressive
Pictured: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Had seen: Tense = Past Perfect; Aspect = Perfect
Came: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Had: Tense = Simple Past; Aspect = simple
Couldn’t get: Tense = Past ; Aspect = simple.
Top answer
For my view on tense and aspect, see . Here's how I would answer. Shared : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Separated : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Was cooking : Tense = Past; Aspect = Progressive Knew : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Was running : Tense = Past; Aspect = Progressive Pictured : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Had seen : Tense = Past; Aspect = Perfect Came : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Had : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Couldn’t get : Tense = Doesn't apply.
- For my view on tense and aspect, see .
- Here's how I would answer.
- Shared : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Separated : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Was cooking : Tense = Past; Aspect = Progressive Knew : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Was running : Tense = Past; Aspect = Progressive Pictured : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Had seen : Tense = Past; Aspect = Perfect Came : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Had : Tense = Past; Aspect = simple Couldn’t get : Tense = Doesn't apply.
- Modal verb.
- I see the tense of a verb form as present or past depending on which of two points of view it has.
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3 Answers
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For my view on tense and aspect, see .
Here's how I would answer.
Shared: Tense = Past; Aspect = simple
Separated: Tense = Past; Aspect = simple
Was cooking: Tense = Past; Aspect = Progressive
Here's how I would answer.
Shared: Tense = Past; Aspect = simple
Separated: Tense = Past; Aspect = simple
Was cooking: Tense = Past; Aspect = Progressive
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Hi,
regarding the modal verbs. I think they do express tense, as in can= present, could = past. However, together with other verbs, is it the same? like couldn't get: tense = pass, aspect : i dont know
regarding the modal verbs. I think they do express tense, as in can= present, could = past. However, together with other verbs, is it the same? like couldn't get: tense = pass, aspect : i dont know
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Since modal verbs have no progressive forms nor perfect forms, I don't see how they can have these aspects. You might just call all modal verbs "simple" in aspect.
Note that the "past forms" of modal verbs are very frequently used with present meaning, so the concept of tense with respect to modal verbs is very loose.
CJ
Note that the "past forms" of modal verbs are very frequently used with present meaning, so the concept of tense with respect to modal verbs is very loose.
CJ
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