(11)Tense_and_aspect(1)

Bill passes the ball to Ron; Ron heads the ball to Mike, Mike shoots, the goalkeeper jumps for the ball and misses by a fraction… it’s a goal! This machine is easy to operate. Watch what I do. I switch it on, press this button and it starts to work.
5) Simple present referring to the past a) In addition to the meanings discussed above, the simple present can occasionally be used to denote past time. This use of the simple present is usually found with “communication verbs” such as tell, say, hear, learn, write to express the present effect of information received in the past. e.g.: Why do you say that? Tom tells (=told/has told) me old Joe died last night. I hear you’re getting married next month. The BBC says it’s going to be cold today. b) Simple present is also used as a device of story-telling and news reporting to add vividness to the description. This use of the simple present to refer to the past is what we call “historic present” (历史性现在时).
11.1 Uses of simple present
2) Habitual present (used with often / always / every day / as a rule …) The simple present is also commonly used to refer to something that is characterized by regular recurrence, a habit. This use is typically associated with dynamic verbs. e.g.: Classes begin at 8. I cycle to work. My husband doesn’t smoke. She practices on the piano for an hour a day. We always care for each other and help each other. We work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
3) Momentary and instantaneous present The simple present can also be used to denote a momentary phenomenon that exists at the time of speaking. This phenomenon usually has some duration and therefore is mostly associated with stative verbs. e.g.: What do you suppose, Henry? I apologize for being late. She looks puzzled. In the name of God, I pronounce you man and wife.
Lecture 11
Tense and Aspect (I)
1) Tense and aspect
Tense is a grammatical form associated with verbs that tells of the distinctions of time; that is to say, tense and time are at once related and different. Time is a unniversal concept with three divisions: past time, present time and future time. When the notion of time, which is common to all mankind, is expressed linguistically, one way of doing this is by means of tense. English verbs have two tenses: the present tense and the past tense. There is no obvious future tense corresponding to the time / tense parallel for present and past. Instead there are a number of possibilities of denoting future time. Aspect as a grammatical term indicates whether an action or state at a given time is viewed as complete or incomplete.
c) The that-clause following such constructions as see to it/ make sure /make certain /take care / … (It is not right if will do is used.): Make sure you get there in time. I’ll make certain that you don’t get lost. See (to it) that the windows are closed before you leave the room. Take care that he doesn’t take you in. d) The conditional clauses introduced by if/ unless/ even if/ in case and temporal clauses by when/ while/ before/ as soon as/ after/ as/ once, etc.: If I have enough money, I will go to Japan. The meeting will be put off in case it rains. Unless he sends the money before Friday, I shall consult my lawyer. I shall tell him when he comes. I’ll telephone you directly I hear the news.
English verbs have 2 aspects: the progressive aspect and the perfective aspect. A combination of the 2 tenses and the two aspects makes it possible for a finite verb phrase to take the following eight forms (with the main verb work a
simple present simple past present progressive past progressive present perfective past perfective present perfective progressive past perfective progressive
4) Simple present referring to the future The simple present can also be used to denote future time. This use is limited to future events conceived of as “certain”, either because they are determined in advance by calendar or timetable, or because they are part of a plan or an arrangement thought of as unalterable. a) Verbs that can be used this way include: begin, start, go, come, open, close, leave, stay, return, arrive, etc. e.g.: The train leaves at 3 p.m. Supper starts at five today. How long do you stay here? When is the wedding? b) The that-clause following I hope, I bet, I suppose (will do can also be used.): I hope it keeps (=will keep) fine a few more days. I bet our team wins. (=will win) Suppose he doesn’t agree, what should we do?