Verb and Tense Compare : 1. I had finished my homework before I

practiced the piano./I finished my homework before I practice the piano.

2.I have read the book. / I have been reading the book.

3.Stan sells vacuum cleaners./Stan is selling vacuum cleaners.

4.Did you go to Yankee Stadium?/ Have you gone to Yankee Stadium?

5. I have been hearing that melody over and over again. /I have been listening to that melody over and over again.

1 No difference except the use of past perfect tense does place more emphasis on the prior nature of “finishing homework”.Both sentences have the same ordering of events. The use of before makes the order explicit without necessitating the use of the past perfect. It is in the absence of such clear temporal makers that the past perfect becomes essential to express the order.

2. The first sentence with the present perfect talks about an experience that was completed, but the second one with the present perfect progressive implies that the action of reading is still an ongoing progress.

3. The present tense here is used for a permanent situation-that is , this is Stan’s permanent job-while the sentence with present progressive suggests that Stan is doing the job only on a short-time basis.

4. The question in the past tense is a definite query and requires some shared knowledge of the timeline on which the event in the question occurred. The second question uses the present perfect of the same verb (go) and could thus be assumed to be the indefinite equivalent of the same question without presuming shared knowledge . However, go behaves irregularly in this respect; in fact, the appropriate indefinite question is still be Have you been to…? In contrast, the question Have you gone to ….? Implies that the person is still there and thus is unlikely to be asked of the persons who may have gone.

5. The first sentence uses the stative verb hear and thus implies that the perception of the melody is not the result of the action on the part of the person but something that has been happening to the person involuntarily. For example, it may be a popular melody that is playing on every radio and in every store. The unusual use of the present progressive with a stative verb emphasizes the receptiveness of the stative rather that reporting a current state.

The verb listen is thee active counterpart of hear and thus implies that the person has made a point of listening to the melody repeatedly-that is , has taken some action so as to hear it. For example, the person may have bought a new CD, or may have been studying the melody, and for this reason is intentionally playing it over and over again.

Compare I have gone to the mall. ( I have

not returned yet; I am still there . ) I have been to the mall. ( I went

and returned. )

Verbs Give , V, Agent, + [ ___ NP PP]

[ Patient] [ Goal]

Will, [-N, + V, + Aux], + [___ VP]

[ + infinitive] have, [ -N, + V, + Aux], + [___VP]

[ + past participle =V-en ] be , [-N, + V, + Aux ], + [ ____VP]

[ + present Participle = V-ing ]

Would Review Here are some sentences with would which you have seen before. Find sentences in which

I) would is used as a conditional II) would is the past tense of will III)would means used to How many sentences are left over?

a If you were designing a poster which two would you choose?

b Yes, I would think so. C My brother would say, ‘oh your mother

spoils you.’ D Would you like ask us anything about it? E Yes, yes, I would agree with that certainly. F Not the sort of letter I would like to receive. G Would people in your country talk freely

about these things? H Then we said that we would play hide and

seek.

I Often there would be a village band made up of self-taught players.

J Some would write their songs or set new words to tunes.

K What advice would you give to a person leaving school or university?

L That’s right, yes, and it would slow the ship down.

M I never had the light on. My parents wouldn’t allow.

N But now a new fear assailed him. Would he get caught in the propeller?

O This brief report would best be understood by a listener who had read the earlier story?

Key I) would used as conditional: a,f,g,k,l,no II) would as the past tense of will :h,m III) would meaning “used to”: c,I,j The sentences left over are b,d and e.

Theses are fixed phrases.In b and e would is a matter of politeness. In d would you like is a very common way of making a offer.

Read ,as a transitive verb The Bible is the most read of all books. ( 阅读 ) You must read something between the lines.

( 理解 ) Your silence will be read as consent.He can re

ad a dream.( 判断 ) ( 你的不作声就会被看作是同意 .)( 他会判梦 ) For that reason he was read out of the Party.

( 就为着这个原因他被开除党籍 ) The thermometer read 80 degrees. The bill was read for the first time.( 议案已付

第一次读 ) For “fail”,a misprint, read “fall”( 勘误 ) Fail 为 fall 之误

Read , as an intransitive verb

It would read oddly. (read =affect the hearer when read)

This book reads interesting. This play reads better than it acts.( 这个剧本上演不如

阅读有趣 ) This autobiography reads like a novel. How does this sentence reads now? I have read of the accident in the newspapers.( 读知 ) He is reading for Master’s degree.( 研读 ) The sentence read as follows. ( 此句文字如下 ) The rule reads two different ways.( 这规则由两种解

释 ) The ticket reads to Paris via Siberia.( 票上写明…… )

Don’t you know any better?

Know better=be wiser, know that it is not as it seems or is represented; have learnt better from experience; hence, be more prudent or discreet than to do sth.

He knows better than to do it.He is too clever to do it. We now know better than to make such concession. 现在我们已经不至于愚笨到做这样的让步 . He should know better than to quarrel with his butter. 他不应该和自己的衣食父母作对 . You should know better at your age. 依你的年龄你不应该再做蠢事 . He is too much of a man of the world not to know better. 如此精通世事的人 , 当物作此事之理 . The block-head should have known his company better. 那个傻瓜要能早认清他的对方就好了 . Don’t you know any better? 难道你不能放理智一点 ?

Misuse of some intransitive verbs 他不同意女儿的婚事 . He did not consent his daughter’s marriage. (consent to) 生病是他缺席的理由 . His illness accounts his absence. (accounts for) 那贮水池将增加本市的美观 . The reservoir will add the beauty of our city. (add to) 我们对这样一个伟大的人逝世同感悲伤 . We all grieve the death of such a great man. Grieve at or over

Misuse of some transitive verbs

你要去开会吗 ? (attend the meeting, attend to= take care of) 她在做菜上要胜过我 She excels over me in cooking. Excel me in cooking 他和一位有钱的女子结婚 He married with a rich girl . Married a rich girl

Lexical Redundancuy Rule词汇的必然规则

﹡ John might will eat meat. Might , [-N, + V , + Aux, + infinitive] ﹡ John is will eat the meat. Is , [-N, + V , + Aux, +-en ] ﹡ John will eaten the meat. ﹡ John is eaten the meat. ﹡ John will eating the meat.

Principle of Distance I made her leave. ( direct influence on her behavior) I want her to leave. ( mental state , indirectly cause her to

leave) I hope that she would leave. (the linguistic distance between the two

verbs are even greater,reflection of conceptual distance)

I help her to do things. I help her do things.

Clauses Marked by Infinitival or Gerundial Clauses

[For John to go ] would be a mistake . I would like [ for John to go ]. John wanted [to go ]. It’s easy [for John to say such things.] [ John’s going to Chicago] was a mistake. [Eating raw meat can be dangerous.] John saw Mary [crossing the street

Tensed John tries to win the race. John tried to win the race. John is trying to win the

race. John will try to win the race.

Present Tense Contradictions exist everywhere. No man but errs. 人非圣贤， 孰能无过？ Prides goes before a fall. 骄者比败 A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. 一鸟在手胜似二鸟在林。 A stitch in time saves nine. 小洞不补， 大洞吃苦。 Time and tide waits no man. You will surely succeed if you try your best. 功夫不负苦心人。

Present Tense Darwin thinks that natural selection is the chief

factor in the development of species. Shakespeare is the author of “Hamlet”. Chaucer writes that love is blind. Shelly says:“If winter comes, can spring be far

away?” 表示已故人物的言行或状态， 或引用书面语言 As the city does not have many entertaining pla

ces to go, we treated the foreign friends to some real Chinese food.

Does not have : 一般现在时表示这个城市长期的客观情况， treated 表示过去的某次行为动作

Why are you wearing glasses? Why do you wear glasses? Linda is living with her parents.(until she gets

a better job. ) Linda lives with her parents (because it costs

her too much to live alone. ) What are you doing for Thanksgiving ? What do you do for Thanksgiving? I am thinking about the answer. I think it is 144.

Simple present &Present Progressive Tense

Simple present &Present Progressive Tense

She’s sick. She is being sick. (=vomiting ) He’s a careful person. He’s being careful. He is very kind. He is being kind. He is lying reading. He often lies reading.(habitual action) The music sounds sweet. Why is the driver sounding his horn?

Past Tense

I was wondering if you could help me. I was hoping you could send me the book. I’d rather you were going at once.(Subjunctive ) She was forever complaining about the weather.(e

motion) She complained about the weather. Care killed the cat.(eternal truth)忧能伤人 世人相信猫由九条命 ,可是忧虑都能使它丧命 ,何况是

人呢 ?劝人不要忧虑 Men were deceivers ever.(from Much Ado About no

thing by Shakespeare) Faint heart never won fair lady. 胆小的人决找不到漂亮的太太 . The course of true love never did run smooth.(from Shakespeare’s Mids N.D).( 好事多磨 )

Present Perfect Tense He is the stingiest man I have ever met. He is the stingiest man I ever met. He is the most thoughtful, considerate, and se

ntimental man I have ever known. 他是我所认识的最能体贴别人 ,考虑周到 , 感情真挚的人 .

This is the most violent form of exercise I’ve ever taken.

Present Perfect Tense& Present Perfect Progressive Tense

I have been visiting my grandparents.（可能还在继续）

I have visited my great-grandmother.(以前的事） I have been teaching for 25 years. (and I can not i

magine doing anything else. ) I have taught for 25 years. (so now I cannot think

about doing anything else. ) 现在完成进行时一般都暗示动作继续下去， 除非有分句对此加以否定。

I have been teaching for 25 years, but now I want to do something else.

Simple Past &Present Perfect Tense

Sheila has joined the Sierra Club. Shelia joined the Sierra Club. 如果她加入时间相同， 但是现在完成时更多的是与

我们以现在的角度去看待这个事件， 而不是与事件发生的实际时间相关。

My father lived here all his life. (implies the father has left or is dead. )

My father has lived here all his life. ( The Father still lives there.)

I have been to Japan twice already, but I still do not speak much Japanese,

现在完成时的作用“设置背景”。

Simple Past &Past Progressive Tense

He was drowning in the lake, so the lifeguard raced into the water. (未完成）

He drowned in the lake. （完成） He left when I came in. He was leaving when I came in. (and so may hav

e changed his mind and stayed.

Past Perfect Tense I had intended to call on you yesterday, but so

meone came to see me just when I was about to leave .( intended to have called on )

We had meant to tell her the news but found that she wasn’t in. (=meant to have told)

Later she explained :“I had thought that he had died ten years ago, but now I know that he is still living.”

He had wanted to help you but he had no time then.

He had been inclined to be an artist. You had better have gone there with her.

Comparison I should like to visit the island.

(present desire, future action) I should like to have visited the

island. (present regret for not having visited it)

I should have liked to have visited the island. (an unfulfilled past desire)

Future Tense I shall sail for the desert island. (future simple ) I will sail for the desert island. (volition) I am to sail for the desert island. (arranged,formal) I am about to sail for the desert island. I am on the point of sailing for the desert island. (an im

mediate action) I shall be sailing for the desert island.(more casual, more

intimate) You are going to regret this.(a threat) 你要后悔的 You’ll regret this. Be going to 比 will 语气要强 You are going to see much better with your new glasses .

(带上这副眼镜就会看得更清楚 ) We’re going to show you the town while you’re here. 语气中可以听出来 , 他们已有准备 , 有计划的要带客人去观光

当地的名胜古迹

Be about to /be going to She looked up at him quickly, and was about t

o speak, but apparently changed her mind. “You were going to say----?” She shook her head hesitantly, and looked at

him again-- a long, searching scrutiny. 她很快地抬头望着他 , 好像想要说什么似的 , 可是显

然她又不想说什么 .“ 刚才你不是想说什么话吗 ?”她犹豫得摇着头 , 又望着他 --- 长久而又详审地

Be going to 表示主观感情 Be about to 表示客观的描写

Look at these extracts form two letters. Underline those words and phrases which refer to the future and discuss ways in which you might classify them:From the Challenge And Change in Language Teaching by Jane Willis &Dave Willis 2002: 97

Extract A I would like to confirm that the British Council

will contribute £500 towards your visit to Singapore to this year’s RELC Seminar. Our Specialist Tours Department should contact you within a week or so with details of payment. Please let me know as soon as you have fixed your travel plans so I can make sure your are properly looked after on arrival.

Extract B I am planning to make arrangements to arri

ve on Sunday April 21st and to leave pm April 30th or am May 1st. I have been in touch with the British Council Washington about the payment for the ticket and I am hoping to finalize those details this week.

I do not know yet whether I shall be staying with Vijay Bhatia. I’ll let you know as soon as I have heard from him.

Key explanation There are a number of expected references to the

future such as the modals will; should; can; shall. There are less predicted ones like the present perfect (as soon as you have fixed; as soon as I have heard); present simple (you are properly looked after). There are four expressions which focus on the future ( I would like to; I am planning to; make arrangements to; I am hoping to). The prepositional phrase on arrival clearly refers to the future. The word yet in I do not know yet clearly has the implications for future action.

Tense Agreement Mother told me that honesty is the best policy. Mary told Father that Jack is always finding fault

with her. The foreign guests told me that they had learnt a

lot during their stay in China. They learned that President Lincoln led the American

Civil War. If you don’t come tomorrow , I will go to your house

and find out why you’re not at work. I will have a good time whether I win or lose. I respect you now and always will. She never can nor shall forget your goodness. The man who marries his daughter will need to be

tough, fast-moving, and quick-thinking.

Used to and Would After he had finished his work, he would re

ad and study by the fireworks. He would sit for hours, book in his hand. Sometimes the boys would play a trick on t

heir teachers. He used to play tennis before marriage. People used to think that the sun went rou

nd the earth. When I was a boy, I used to like eat chocola

te. There used to be some trees in this field,us

e(d)n’t <didn’t> there?

Ought, need, dare You ought not promise what you cannot perform. Have you not paid him? You ought to have paid

him. Has he succeeded? Such an idle fellow ought not

to have succeeded. It need not be true.(auxiliary) You need not be rich to help others. You need not have given you so mush trouble. We lay still, scarcely daring to breathe. He could plan what another man dare not do,

and he could do what another dare not plan. How dare you say such rude things about him? I have never dared (to)speak to him. You are right ,I daresay(=very likely).

MEGAFEPS by 钱歌川 1981： 175M(mind, miss),E(enjoy),G(give up),A (admit),F(finis

h),E(escape),P(practice),S(stop)（霉咖啡不是 )

The teacher did not mind explaining the problem again.

You cannot miss seeing the statue on your way. We enjoyed talking about old times. I gave up smoking last month. The man admitted having broken into the house. You have avoid calling on others on Sundays. Have you finished studying for your examination? By some means or other he escaped being

punished. You should practice playing the piano regularly. As long as you live , your heart never stops

beating.

Remember I do not remember your name. (想起 ) I shall always remember your kindness. (记忆 ) Remember me to your mother.(致意 ) Remember a child on its birthday. (送小孩生日礼

物 ) Remember the waiter.(支付侍者小费 ) My uncle remembered me in his will. (… 在遗嘱中分遗产给我 )

I remember seeing him once. I remember that I saw him. I remember to have seen him once. I remember to see him tomorrow. I remember that I must see him tomorrow.

Model: Developing a meaningful philosophy of life is less important than ever.

Less important than ever is developing a meaningful philosophy of life.

Ex. Rewrite the following sentences after the model, emphasizing the italicized parts by

putting them at the beginning of the sentence..

1. They will give up the plan on no account.

2. He knows little how much his parents love him.

 

On no account will they give up the plan.

Little does he know how much his parents love him.

3. He did not realize what a serous mistake he had made until he read the report.

4. The poor old man could hardly fall asleep with a pain in his leg.

5. We will give in to their demands under no conditions.

Not until he read the report did he realize what a serious mistake he had made.

Hardly could the poor old man fall asleep with a pain in his leg.

Under no conditions will we give in to their demands.

Exercises: Translation p:235

1. We shall start off as soon as the rain stops. 2. I shall ring you up directly I hear the news. 3. If you are leaving early tomorrow morning,

you will have to finish packing before bedtime.

4. The committee are to gather next Thursday to settle matter.

5. He is not to stay her any longer. He is to leave at once.

6. She said that by the end of the week she would have been back to China .

7. He told me yesterday that he was going to get married next month.

8. He announced at the press conference that the prime minister of Japan was to visit China next Monday.

9. If you go and see him at six, he will be taking morning exercises.

10. What will you be doing at 7:30 tomorrow evening?

11. When you come back from Nanjing next week, the discussion will have finished.

12. By next weekend, I shall have been here for a whole year.

13. Don’t get off the bus till it stops. 14. They are going to spend their holidays in Dali

an next summer. 15. Look! The dark clouds are gathering. It is goin

g to rain. 16. If I am at lunch when he comes, please tell hi

m to wait for a while.

17. We shall stay here for a couple of days before we go on to Xian.

18. We are having our dress rehearsal tomorrow evening. Are you coming?

19. How many students are going? Are they going by boat?

20. The Foreign Ministers were to have met on May 14 to discuss the proposals for easing the crisis but the war broke out.