ETT1 Geertje Hutsebaut 2023
ENGELS T&T – DEEL 1
GRAMMAR
SAMENVATTING
TENSE AND ASPECT
INTRODUCTION TO TENSE
Tense and aspect
What is tense?
= location of situation/action/event in time, in relation to speech situation
= moment of utterance & moment of interpretation - spoken = identical = temporal zero point (t0)
= now
= moment of speaking
- written = different
Absolute vs. relative tense
- Past
- Present perfect
- Present
- Future
= in absolute tens or relative verb form (point of reference)
Absolute tense
= interpreted directly in relation to t0 - Past
- Present
- Present perfect
- Future
Establish a new temporal domain ‘when did it take place? Past, present future?’
- I started working at the supermarket over the summer three years
ago, and I’ll continue to do so until my graduation.
- My aunt lived in France for a few years.
- I will clean my office later this week.
Has no explicit information about the relationship with other verbs
Present tense: present use
= situation in present = at/around t0
- characteristics and - I can’t roll my tongue into a tube shape.
facts
- eternal truths - Swans usually mate for life, although ‘divorce’
sometimes occurs.
- on-the-spot events - Ramos passes a penalty to Benzema, and
Benzema scores.
Present continuous = in progress at t0 - I’m listening to my favourite podcast.
- I’m reading a book by Verginia Woolf.
Present tense: past use
= present verb to refer to something in past
- acts of verbalisation/cognition still relevant at t 0 - I hear your father’s going to retire soon.
- I see you had a haircut.
- In her letter, she writes that she’s never been
happier.
- historic present - Then he grabs me by the collar and hits me in the teeth, and I pull a strand
of his hair out.
- newspaper headlines and captions - Meghan reveals her new spotify podcast.
- Margaret Keane, ‘big eyes’ artist dies aged 94.
,ETT1 Geertje Hutsebaut 2023
- synopses - Peter Parker asks Dr. Strange to make his identity a secret again following
its public revelation. When the spell goes wrong, the multiverse is broken
open.
- historical summaries - 13 June 1944: Germany launches the
first V1 bomb attack on England.
- 13 June 2018: Volkswagen is fined
one billion dollars over the emissions
scandal.
Present tense: future use
Present-meaning future is accompanied by future contextual element
Present simple = unalterable facts = already certain at t0
= beyond the speaker’s control
- calendar events - This year, my birthday falls on a Tuesday
- timetabled - My train home leaves at 5.07pm.
actions
- definite - She starts her new job at the end of April.
arrangements
Present continuous = present plans = planned at t0, but less definite than present simple
= within subject’s control
- We’re having dinner with my brother tonight.
- I’m taking the car to work tomorrow because of the train
strike.
Obtain a word in future
Past tense
= situation located entirely before t0
- with contextual element Explicitly mentioned Implicitly mentioned
- Where were you last Monday? - Did you see Springsteen in
Werchter?
- focus on another aspect - Why did you feel the need to tell her - Who let the dogs out?
of past situation that?
- contrasted with present - I was a lazier student in high school than I am now.
Present perfect tense
= covers timespan started before t0 and leads up to t0 = pre-present domain
- with contextual - ever & never - Have you ever been to the United States?
element - already & yet - Some of the students haven’t finished the novel
yet.
- since adverbials - I have been working at the KU Leuven since 2016.
- first, second etc. time - This is the third time NATO has assumed military duties in a region outside
Europe.
- which timespan? - Have the kids had dinner yet?
- My parents have already visited Miami.
- two subtypes - continuative perfect
- indefinite, existential or occurrential perfect
Continuative perfect
= habit/situation started in past and gone up until t 0 - They have lived/have been living in this
neighbourhood for at least ten years.
- He has been unemployed for four months now.
- She has always been a shy, introspective
person.
Indefinite, existential or occurrential perfect
= within time period started in past and runs until t 0, - This is the first time I’ve taken a plane.
something has occurred at least once - Have you ever tried ayahuasca?
= resultative = situation took place in past, focus on - My baby brother has learnt to walk.
present result - The athlete has injured his shoulder.
, ETT1 Geertje Hutsebaut 2023
Intermezzo: Present perfect vs. past tense
Present perfect Past tense
- She has been under treatment for hypertension for - She was under treatment for hypertension for
two years. two years.
Ongoing Closed off action
Future tense
= something occurs in period starting from t 0
- will + infinitive - The weekend will be warm and sunny.
- I can’t talk now, but I’ll give you a call tomorrow.
- will + be + -ing form In - This time tomorrow, I’ll be attending a show by my favourite band.
progress
Casual - Will he be bringing his new boyfriend to the party?
plan - We’ll be hanging out at Rose’s tomorrow. Care to join us?
- be going to + infinitive = future situation can be predicted at t0
< agent has planned something - They’re going to kill me.
- What is Biden going to do?
< current knowledge or evidence - He looks as though he’s going to burst
into tears.
- It’s clear that out lawn isn’t going to
survive this dry spell.
Immediate future - be about to + infinitive - I’m about to kick your ass.
- be on the point of + ing - They’re on the point of having a baby.
- be on the verge of + ing - Scientists are on the verge of creating an emotionally
intelligent computer.
- be to + infinitive = official future, imposed by - After his visit to Iraq, the Pope is to visit more countries
outside actor in the Middle East.
- British barbers are to be given mental health training.
Relative tense
= interpreted indirectly in relation to other situation - other verbs in sentence are subject
(in absolute verb that determines temporal domain) to AV
= time of orientation (TO)
Three relationships with AV - anteriority = RV (relative verb) before AV (absolute verb)
- simultaneity = RV at same time as AV
- posteriority = RV after AV
Remains within same temporal - She told me that she had made a terrible mistake.
domain - He promised that he would come back after a year.
Past domain
Past domain = absolute past tense - They found a mysterious box hidden
(simple/continues) under the floorboards.
- I was struggling to make ends meet.
- anteriority = past perfect - We returned home after we had
cleaned the holiday cottage.
- My grandpa told me how he saved
someone from drowning during the
war.
- simultaneity = past tenses - The murderers mistakenly believed
they featured in the victim’s last will.
- She said she was deeply
disappointed in me.
- posteriority = ‘future-in-the-past’
- would - Several members believed the world
would end soon.
- was/were to - Stanton heard rumours that he was
(arrangements) to be replaced by a younger news
ENGELS T&T – DEEL 1
GRAMMAR
SAMENVATTING
TENSE AND ASPECT
INTRODUCTION TO TENSE
Tense and aspect
What is tense?
= location of situation/action/event in time, in relation to speech situation
= moment of utterance & moment of interpretation - spoken = identical = temporal zero point (t0)
= now
= moment of speaking
- written = different
Absolute vs. relative tense
- Past
- Present perfect
- Present
- Future
= in absolute tens or relative verb form (point of reference)
Absolute tense
= interpreted directly in relation to t0 - Past
- Present
- Present perfect
- Future
Establish a new temporal domain ‘when did it take place? Past, present future?’
- I started working at the supermarket over the summer three years
ago, and I’ll continue to do so until my graduation.
- My aunt lived in France for a few years.
- I will clean my office later this week.
Has no explicit information about the relationship with other verbs
Present tense: present use
= situation in present = at/around t0
- characteristics and - I can’t roll my tongue into a tube shape.
facts
- eternal truths - Swans usually mate for life, although ‘divorce’
sometimes occurs.
- on-the-spot events - Ramos passes a penalty to Benzema, and
Benzema scores.
Present continuous = in progress at t0 - I’m listening to my favourite podcast.
- I’m reading a book by Verginia Woolf.
Present tense: past use
= present verb to refer to something in past
- acts of verbalisation/cognition still relevant at t 0 - I hear your father’s going to retire soon.
- I see you had a haircut.
- In her letter, she writes that she’s never been
happier.
- historic present - Then he grabs me by the collar and hits me in the teeth, and I pull a strand
of his hair out.
- newspaper headlines and captions - Meghan reveals her new spotify podcast.
- Margaret Keane, ‘big eyes’ artist dies aged 94.
,ETT1 Geertje Hutsebaut 2023
- synopses - Peter Parker asks Dr. Strange to make his identity a secret again following
its public revelation. When the spell goes wrong, the multiverse is broken
open.
- historical summaries - 13 June 1944: Germany launches the
first V1 bomb attack on England.
- 13 June 2018: Volkswagen is fined
one billion dollars over the emissions
scandal.
Present tense: future use
Present-meaning future is accompanied by future contextual element
Present simple = unalterable facts = already certain at t0
= beyond the speaker’s control
- calendar events - This year, my birthday falls on a Tuesday
- timetabled - My train home leaves at 5.07pm.
actions
- definite - She starts her new job at the end of April.
arrangements
Present continuous = present plans = planned at t0, but less definite than present simple
= within subject’s control
- We’re having dinner with my brother tonight.
- I’m taking the car to work tomorrow because of the train
strike.
Obtain a word in future
Past tense
= situation located entirely before t0
- with contextual element Explicitly mentioned Implicitly mentioned
- Where were you last Monday? - Did you see Springsteen in
Werchter?
- focus on another aspect - Why did you feel the need to tell her - Who let the dogs out?
of past situation that?
- contrasted with present - I was a lazier student in high school than I am now.
Present perfect tense
= covers timespan started before t0 and leads up to t0 = pre-present domain
- with contextual - ever & never - Have you ever been to the United States?
element - already & yet - Some of the students haven’t finished the novel
yet.
- since adverbials - I have been working at the KU Leuven since 2016.
- first, second etc. time - This is the third time NATO has assumed military duties in a region outside
Europe.
- which timespan? - Have the kids had dinner yet?
- My parents have already visited Miami.
- two subtypes - continuative perfect
- indefinite, existential or occurrential perfect
Continuative perfect
= habit/situation started in past and gone up until t 0 - They have lived/have been living in this
neighbourhood for at least ten years.
- He has been unemployed for four months now.
- She has always been a shy, introspective
person.
Indefinite, existential or occurrential perfect
= within time period started in past and runs until t 0, - This is the first time I’ve taken a plane.
something has occurred at least once - Have you ever tried ayahuasca?
= resultative = situation took place in past, focus on - My baby brother has learnt to walk.
present result - The athlete has injured his shoulder.
, ETT1 Geertje Hutsebaut 2023
Intermezzo: Present perfect vs. past tense
Present perfect Past tense
- She has been under treatment for hypertension for - She was under treatment for hypertension for
two years. two years.
Ongoing Closed off action
Future tense
= something occurs in period starting from t 0
- will + infinitive - The weekend will be warm and sunny.
- I can’t talk now, but I’ll give you a call tomorrow.
- will + be + -ing form In - This time tomorrow, I’ll be attending a show by my favourite band.
progress
Casual - Will he be bringing his new boyfriend to the party?
plan - We’ll be hanging out at Rose’s tomorrow. Care to join us?
- be going to + infinitive = future situation can be predicted at t0
< agent has planned something - They’re going to kill me.
- What is Biden going to do?
< current knowledge or evidence - He looks as though he’s going to burst
into tears.
- It’s clear that out lawn isn’t going to
survive this dry spell.
Immediate future - be about to + infinitive - I’m about to kick your ass.
- be on the point of + ing - They’re on the point of having a baby.
- be on the verge of + ing - Scientists are on the verge of creating an emotionally
intelligent computer.
- be to + infinitive = official future, imposed by - After his visit to Iraq, the Pope is to visit more countries
outside actor in the Middle East.
- British barbers are to be given mental health training.
Relative tense
= interpreted indirectly in relation to other situation - other verbs in sentence are subject
(in absolute verb that determines temporal domain) to AV
= time of orientation (TO)
Three relationships with AV - anteriority = RV (relative verb) before AV (absolute verb)
- simultaneity = RV at same time as AV
- posteriority = RV after AV
Remains within same temporal - She told me that she had made a terrible mistake.
domain - He promised that he would come back after a year.
Past domain
Past domain = absolute past tense - They found a mysterious box hidden
(simple/continues) under the floorboards.
- I was struggling to make ends meet.
- anteriority = past perfect - We returned home after we had
cleaned the holiday cottage.
- My grandpa told me how he saved
someone from drowning during the
war.
- simultaneity = past tenses - The murderers mistakenly believed
they featured in the victim’s last will.
- She said she was deeply
disappointed in me.
- posteriority = ‘future-in-the-past’
- would - Several members believed the world
would end soon.
- was/were to - Stanton heard rumours that he was
(arrangements) to be replaced by a younger news
