Tense and Aspect Tense and Aspect What is tense? Tense is a deictic category which relates

the time of the event/state represented by the clause to the time of the utterance, i.e. the speech moment, 'now'.

Tense is expressed by the form of the finite verb in the verb phrase.

All languages allow speakers and listeners to locate situations (i.e., event, process, state ) in time.

Grammaticalized Location in TimeGrammaticalized Location in Time Expressions for locating time can be divided into three

classes: Lexically composite expressions (e.g., five minutes

after John left, last year) Lexical items (e.g., now, today, yesterday, last ) Grammatical categories (tense, aspect)

Languages express location in Languages express location in time time by means of by means of grammatical categories, grammatical categories, e.g., e.g.,

(1) John sang (1) John sang (2) John sings(2) John sings

(3) John has sung(3) John has sung (4) John is singing(4) John is singing The difference in (1) and (2) in English is The difference in (1) and (2) in English is tensetense The difference in (3) and (4) is The difference in (3) and (4) is aspectaspect

Time LineTime Line

Time can be represented as a straight line, with the past represented conventionally to the left and the future to the right.

past 0

present future

ESS P SP

PP E

Tense in English Tense in English

Conceptually, we have three tenses, but, grammatically, English has only two different tense marking strategies: Past:Past: the event happened before now. Non-past:Non-past: the event happens now or whatever time

interval that includes now. It encompasses both “present” and “future”. .

Past tense: Past tense: tells us that the event or state described by a tells us that the event or state described by a sentence sentence occurred sometime before the speech timeoccurred sometime before the speech time. . It is It is usually marked by usually marked by -ed -ed on the verb (but also on the verb (but also irregularlyirregularly as in as in give/gave, bring/brought, sing/sang, etc.) give/gave, bring/brought, sing/sang, etc.)

I I climbedclimbed the mountain. the mountain. I I spokespoke before the jury. before the jury.

I I could talk could talk to him last week. to him last week.

Tense in EnglishTense in English Non-Past tense Non-Past tense tells us that the event or state, tells us that the event or state,

described by a sentence holds true of the described by a sentence holds true of the speech time, i.e., speech time, i.e., nownow. In some cases, non-past . In some cases, non-past tensed sentence describes actions that may be tensed sentence describes actions that may be reoccurring or about to occur. reoccurring or about to occur.

Ali Ali works works in a multi-national company.in a multi-national company. Khaled Khaled runs runs a factory. a factory. Gold Gold is is a shining metal. a shining metal. The Earth The Earth revolvesrevolves around the sun. around the sun.

AspectAspect in English in English What is Aspect? What is Aspect?

It is a term used to describe the state of verb action as beginning, in progress, or completed.

In many languages, aspect and tense are closely interwoven with each other. .

English has two main aspects: 1.1. The perfectThe perfect2.2. The progressiveThe progressive

AspectAspect … cont’d … cont’d Perfect Aspect: Perfect Aspect:

It describes an action that started and completed sometime before topic time (e.g. now) and still has a relevance to it. It is marked by the combination of the auxiliary "have" and the past participle morpheme “ –en ” occurring on the verb that follows “have”.

a. Students have expressed to me their love for linguistics.

b. You have been great, good night!

c. Martha has reportedly driven him crazy.

d. She had known him for a year when he died.

AspectAspect … cont’d … cont’d Progressive Aspect: Progressive Aspect:

It describes an ongoing action, or an eventuality in progress, especially one that is continuous or repetitive. It is marked by the combination of the auxiliary “ be ” + the present participle “-ing” on the main verb.

a. Sally Johns is speaking again.

b. While you were sleepingwere sleeping, I ate the cake.

c. You are being are being childish.

d. He was thinking was thinking of Janine.

Tense and Aspect in Arabic Tense and Aspect in Arabic Arabic has two tenses: past and present. Future tense is indicated by means of future

particles (ســــ ) or (سوف )

Arabic has two aspects:

1- The perfect refers to a past time or completed action.

2- The imperfect refers to present or non-past time

Tense and Aspect in Arabic Tense and Aspect in Arabic PerfectPerfectImperfectImperfect

كتُب� كتُب� أأُت�ُت�كتبكتبأناأنا

كتُبكتُبنن ناناكتبكتبنحن نحن

كتُب�كتُب�تتُت�ُت�كتبكتبانُتانُت

كتبين�كتبين�تتُت�ُت�كتبكتبانُت�انُت�

كتُبكتُبييُبُبكتكتهو هو

كتُبكتُبتتُتُتكتبكتبهيهي

كتبونكتبونييووكتبكتبهم هم

كتبنكتبنييننكتبكتبهن هن

Activity Activity A)- Translate the following into ArabicA)- Translate the following into Arabic1- Man is mortal 1- Man is mortal 2- Abdullah left for Cairo yesterday 2- Abdullah left for Cairo yesterday 3- I walk for two kilometers every day 3- I walk for two kilometers every day 4- I lived in New York for one year4- I lived in New York for one year5- Maha is going to finish her report tonight5- Maha is going to finish her report tonight6- Don’t worry! I’ll help you with this 6- Don’t worry! I’ll help you with this

7- George is writing a book on literature these days7- George is writing a book on literature these days 8- The exhibition is starting next week.8- The exhibition is starting next week.9- Ali was listening to music at 8pm yesterday evening9- Ali was listening to music at 8pm yesterday evening10- Mona was cooking when the telephone rang10- Mona was cooking when the telephone rang

Activity Activity 11- I will be sitting in class at this time tomorrow11- I will be sitting in class at this time tomorrow12- John and Mary have moved into a new apartment 12- John and Mary have moved into a new apartment 13- I have lived in Amman for two years13- I have lived in Amman for two years14- I have been playing basketball since 10 o’clock 14- I have been playing basketball since 10 o’clock 15- Huda has been thinking about changing her major15- Huda has been thinking about changing her major16- The rain had stopped before the time class was over16- The rain had stopped before the time class was over17- The police had been looking for the thief for 3 17- The police had been looking for the thief for 3

monthsmonths18- My parents will have gone to sleep by the time I get 18- My parents will have gone to sleep by the time I get

home.home.19. I will have been watching the film for two hours 19. I will have been watching the film for two hours

before I go to bed. before I go to bed.