华南师范大学英语专业大二语法课8-Verbs(1)

System 2
Form of Finite VP → Tense (+ Aspect) Tense → Present/Past Aspect → Perfective and/or Progressive
There are 8 forms of the Finite VP in System 2
• Acceptable to say: He has been a member of the club for three years.
Some verbs can be used for either continuous or instantaneous action.
• He is writing a novel. (continuous action)
• 4 types of time: present, past, future, past future
• 4 aspects: zero aspect (simple), continuous, perfect,
continuous perfect
• Number of Tenses = 4 x 4 = 16 (tenses)
written by a boy of eleven.
seem/appear + infinitive
• He seems/appears to have many friends.
• I can’t seem(= seem unable) to get out of this bad habit.
get, become, grow, turn, change, arrive, reach, leave, etc. -- for changes of state/position
• It’s getting colder.
• * He has become a member of the club for three years.
• Our university is owning the building now, but we will sell it in the near future.
Verbs for senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, and look (as link. v.), notice, observe (= notice)
The tense of the finite VP
• System 2 (since 1970’s): 2 tenses (Present & Past) + 2 aspects
(progressive & perfective) • In this system, ‘will/shall/+ m.v.’ is
Simple present
Present tense
Past tense
Simple past
Perfective aspect
Progressive aspect
Verbs
Part One FINITE VERB PHRASES I. Main Verbs (Full Verbs ) II. Auxiliary Verbs III. Semi-auxiliary Verbs
• He has been writing the novel for two months.
• He wrote the letter “E” on the blackboard. (instantaneous acห้องสมุดไป่ตู้ion)
• * He has written the letter “E” on the blackboard for two hours.
easy to chew). • He was born rich but died poor.
(cf. They lived poorly.)(=with little money) (cf. He was poorly dressed/paid.) • I’m feeling rather poorly today. (Br. E =ill)
Dynamic and Stative Verbs
Dynamic verbs i) For continuous actions: drink, eat, read,
write, play, talk, work, walk, run, rain, snow, fly, etc. • I’m writing a letter. • They have been playing table tennis since breakfast. • They talked and talked until midnight.
link. v. + n.: • The actor looked his part. • He died a heroic death.
link. v. + adv.: • They kept together in the struggle. • The girl flushed up at the words.
Present Tense, and ‘would + m.v.’ is Past Tense. The word ‘will/would’ is regarded as an auxiliary verb like ‘can’ or ‘may’ etc., not as a tense maker.
• There are 2 systems about the tense of the finite VP in English.
The tense of the finite VP
• Tenses: System 1 (traditional):
•
Tense = time + aspect
e.g. I have done it.-- present perfect tense
ii) For instantaneous actions or for changes of state/position: hit, jump, tap, knock, open/close (a book/door), put (sth. on the table), take out, etc. -- for instantaneous actions
• He is being funny. (= He is only joking, Don’t believe him.)
• She is just being polite. (She is pretending to admire your clothes, etc..)
• You are being stupid. (are not trying to understand)
student.) • I have a ticket. (* I am having a
ticket)
Progressive aspect for be:
• Tom is being foolish.(= is talking or acting foolishly now)
• The children are being quiet. (= are playing quietly now)
• He was jumping to keep warm.
• Somebody is knocking at the door.
• He has been knocking at the door for a few minutes.
• (The progressive aspect indicates repetition of action.)
Part One FINITE VERB PHRASES
Sentence Finite Clause
Finite Verb Phrase
S
VP
(Operator) predication
All the men
have
done their best.
Finite verb phrase
Finite Clause
• He is being difficult. (He is raising unnecessary objections.)
• This rule applies to everyone. (= is effective to) (*...is applying to...)
• The building belongs to our university. (= is the property of) (*...is belonging to...)
linking verbs
link. v. + adj.: • When does the rent fall due? • The old man would never rest idle. • I dare say I stand innocent of any wrong. • The meat cooked tender(= not tough,
link. v. + participle: • The small town remained unchanged. • They appeared amused by the story. • He seems laughing, but I can’t hear
him.
link. v. + prep. phr.: • He appeared at his ease. • It doesn’t read like an article
Verbs and Verb Phrases
Chapter 10 Chen Daoming School of Foreign Studies South China Normal University
dynamic and stative V.
Verbs and Verb Phrases
• Part One: FINITE VERB PHRASES • Part Two: NON-FINITE VERB PHRASES • Part Three: PHRASAL VERBS
S
VP
(Operator)
Predication
(Aux. V.)
Main V.
tense
(aspect)
I
can
I
am
work. working.
The tense of the finite VP
• The form of a Finite Verb Phrase (VP) changes in tense.
• Acceptable to say: He wrote...two hours ago. Or:
• It has been/is two hours since he wrote...
Stative verbs
i) be and have • I am a student.(? I am being a
Part Two NON-FINITE VERB PHRASES Part Three PHRASAL VERBS
Verbs
Part One FINITE VERB PHRASES I. Main Verbs (Full Verbs )
1. transitive, intransitive and linking verbs 2. regular and irregular verbs 3. dynamic and stative verbs 4. compound verbs
• The room measures five meters by four. (= is/has an area of) (*...is measuring...)
Possible to say:
• The building is belonging to our university now. (but it will belong to sb. else next year)