時態

英語動詞出場，時態相隨!

English	Chinese
She goes to school. She went to school.	她去學校

 

I am eating apples. 我在吃蘋果 Present event （現在式）

I eat apples. 我是吃蘋果的 Habitual fact （習慣常態）

 

狀態動詞＆動作動詞

Stative Verbs and Active Verbs

1. 狀態動詞 : know / believe / have

2. 動作動詞  : eat / go / hit

	狀態動詞 Stative verb : know	動作動詞Active verb : write
Past	He knew the answer.	He wrote a novel.
Present	He knows the answer. He is knowing the answer.(x) →no progressive	He is writing the letter. →always in progressive
Habitual	1) He knows the answer right now. present tense →針對眼前問題，他知道答案 2) He always knows the answer. habitual tense →他博學多聞，總是知道答案	He (always) writes novels. 8

 

• No action is involved

1) I am knowing the answer. (X)

2) She is believing in God. (X)

3) John is understanding your point. (X)

 

• But you can say:

1. I am getting the answer.

2. I am trusting God.

3. I am trying to understand your point.

 

動詞為什麼需要時態變化？

Chinese	English
1. 我昨天「去」跳舞 2. 我今天「去」跳舞 3. 我明天「去」跳舞 • Temporal information is not marked on verbs. • Temporal adverbials • Aspect marker le	A. Where did you go yesterday? B. I went to a ball game. • Every verb needs to be marked. • Temporal information is marked in verbs.

 

 

irregular verbs 不規則動詞

	原形	過去式
無變化 形同、音同	set put cast	set put cast
形同、音不同	read	read
改變末尾子音	send lend spend	sent lent spent
改變母音子音	go say keep	went said kept

 

	原形	過去式
改變母音	see run sit give take know come begin find write	saw ran sat gave took knew came began found wrote 13

 

He was lying.

He was lying there.

同形動詞如何辨識語意？

lie 說謊 lie-lied-lied

lie 過去式 lied — 過去分詞 lied — 現在分詞 lying

He lied to me about his age.

 

lie 躺 lie-lay-lain

過去式 lay — 過去分詞 lain — 現在分詞 lying

He lay flat on the sofa. 第三人稱沒加-s→過去式→無受詞→ 不及物的「躺」

 

lay 擺放 lay-laid-laid

過去式 laid — 過去分詞 laid — 現在分詞 laying

He lays the book on the sofa.

第三人稱加-s→不是過去式→有受詞→及物的「擺放」

 

未來式 Future Tense

1) I will leave soon.

2) I am going to leave soon.

3) I am leaving soon.

 

Origins of different forms of future tense:

• “will”: wish/determination → future

• “be going to”: moving in space → moving in time 從空間到時間

• “be V-ing”: on-going for immediate future

 

1) I am leaving this afternoon. → 立即要離開

2) I am leaving next year. (?) →I will leave next year. (√)

 

will (Model Aux)

Formal /certain The distant future

 

be going to / be gonna (Complex Aux)

Less formal / less certain The near future

 

be V-ing (Progressive Aux)

Informal / pretty certain The immediate future

 

過去習慣

Past habitual

1) used to + V：

She used to play guitar, but not anymore.

(以前曾有彈吉他的習慣，現在不彈了)

2) would + V：

She would play guitar when feeling down.

(過去有彈吉他的習慣，現在與未來仍有可能彈)

 

1) I thought English was difficult, but it is not.

過去的信念，現在不認為如此

 

2) I thought English is difficult and still do.

對事實的認定，一向認為如此

 

時段/時貌

Tense and Aspect:

Tense (時點)	Aspect (觀點)
Event T in relation to Speech T 發生時間	A perspective of temporal properties 發生樣貌

The same event – 3 different ways of describing it:

1. A cat chased a dog.

2. A cat was chasing a dog.

3. A cat has chased a dog.

 

描述事件的時間特性

(temporal properties)

 

1) Simple aspect — an independent event viewed as as a whole

2) Progressive aspect — Be + V-ing: simultaneously on-going

3) Perfect aspect — have/has + PP， an event completed by a referent point

 

進行時態

Progressive Tense

On-going Events 正在進行的活動

• 沉浸在活動中 Immersed in the middle of an event 

• 將事件視為同時進行 Perceive the events as simulatneously on-going

（與其他事件一起發生 Coocurrin with another event）

• 放大視角 A zoom-in perspective

 

A. What did you do at 7 pm last night?

A. 你昨晚 7 點做了什麼？

 

B. I ate dinner at 7 pm last night. B. 我昨晚 7 點吃晚飯。

Simple past → a simple, wholistic event

（簡單的過去→一個簡單的、完整的事件）

 

B. I was eating dinner at 7 pm. B. 我晚上正在 7 點吃晚飯。

Progressive past → a zoom-in perspective → emphasizing it’s on-going at the time

（漸進式過去 → 放大視角 → 強調當時正在進行）

 

四種時態的“放大視角”   ‘Zoom-in’ aspect with four types of tense

• 同時進行：

過去進行

I was eating dinner at 7 pm (before now).

Simultaneously on-going at a past time

 

現在進行

I am eating dinner at 7 pm (now).

 

未來進行

I will be eating dinner at 7 pm (after now).

 

習慣常態進行

I would be eating dinner at 7 pm(everyday).

 

完成式Perfect Aspect

• I have taught for three years. (by now)

• I have lived here for twenty years. (by now)

 

When I came in, all students smiled at me. 當我進來時，所有的學生都對我微笑。

• an event as a whole viewed in distance

When I came in, all students were smiling at me. 我進來的時候，所有的學生都正對我微笑。

• an on-going event in the middle of happening

 

 

I did my homework last night.

我昨晚做了功課。

 

I have done my homework.

我已經完成了我的功課。

 

1) Present Perfect : completed by the Present 由現在完成

2) Past Perfect: completed by a past time 由過去的時間完成

3) Future Perfect: completed by a future time 由未來時間完成

 

I have done my homework and eaten dinner.

I had done my homework before dinner

I will have watched TV before bed

 

I have eaten dinner (by now). 我吃過晚飯（現在）。

I had done my homework before I ate dinner. 在我吃晚飯之前，我已經完成了家庭作業。

I will have watched TV before I go to bed. 我會在睡覺前看電視。

 

1) “For”

I lived in Taipei for 22 years.

(單純描述「過去一段時間」發生的事) → 簡單式

 

I have lived in Taipei for 22 years since 1990.

(強調「到目前為止」所發生的事) → 完成式

 

2) “Since”

• 相對於事件的「參照點」

• 標記完成事件的「起點」 I’ve lived in Taipei since 1990. (by now) (參照點是「現在」) I’ve lived in Taipei since 1990 until now. (1990至目前為止，都住在台北)

• 強調從「起點」至「參照點」為止，所完成的 動作或狀態

 

I had lived in Hsinchu for 10 years before Becky was born.

We moved to Taipei in 1990.

We have been living there for 22 years until now.

在貝基出生之前，我已經在新竹生活了 10 年。

我們於 1990 年搬到台北。

直到現在，我們已經在那裡生活了 22 年。

 

完成進行式 Perfect Progressive

1) I have been living in Taipei for 22 years.

2) I have been searching for my true love.

 

V-ing

1) Simultaneously On-going — an event is in process and will keep on moving.

2) Zooming-in — speaker take a zoom-in aspect for the event

「放大且聚焦」學生正處於微笑的動作

3) Simultaneous — 進行式強調事件「同時進行」

smiling at me 與 背景事件 I came in 同時發生 兩事件彼此重疊，並非先後獨立

 

Continue/Keep + V-ing

• Keep + V-ing  may render slightly different meanings with different verbs:

• Continue/keep + Ving: 不斷重複 repetition as on-going

• The baby kept sucking his thumb (on and on). 嬰兒一直吮吸他的拇指（一次又一次）。

→ 短時間不斷重複(一直吸允)

 

• He kept spraining his ankle (again and again). 他一直扭傷腳踝（一次又一次）。

→ 長時間中 間斷的動作(常常扭傷)

 

He started speaking English.

to speak → 開始講英文 → started and on-going 開始且持續

 

He stopped reading his book and listened. → Stopped from happening

He stop to read his book and listened.

 

 

To-V vs. V-ing

• 有些動詞可以接 V-ing 也可以接 to-V

1)

She continued singing for three hours.

She continued to sing after lunch.

2)

He went on singing . → 之前一直再唱歌

He went on to sing. → 做完某事之後才唱起來

 

過去完成式要與過去式合用

Anteriority — ahead of the referent point 「事件」必然在「參照時間」之前發生

1. He met his wife (A), found a job (B), and got married (C).

2. Before he found a job (B), he had met his wife (A) , and got married later (C).

3. [ (A) → (B) → (C) ] ——> 2. [ (B) → (A) → (C) ]

 

1. She has read this book. (已結束)

(他曾讀過這本書，在參照時間前動作已結束)

 

1. She has been reading this book.

(他完成read的動作，且持續進行到現在)

 

She has been a teacher.

狀態具有持續性，他現在仍是老師

 

“Been to” vs. “Gone to”

1) He’s gone to Japan.

have gone to 完成「移動」的動作，人在路徑的另一端

他去了日本。(已移動到日本，人在日本)

• 動詞 go是動作，從一點「移動」向另一點

• Away from the speaker

 

2) He has been to Japan.

have been to 完成「處於」的狀態，人曾經「在那裏」

他去過日本。(曾經處於「人在日本的狀態」) (說話時通常處於日本以外的地方)

• Be動詞表「存在、處於」的狀態

• Existing in some place.

 

 

分詞構句Participial Construction

Foregrounding	Backgrounding
•Specifically marked in tense. 特定時間 •To report the main event 強調主要事件	•Progressive tense 進行式 •Simultaneously happening 同時發生

 

我拖了地板，打掃了浴室，聽著 Bee Gees。

1) I mopped the floor and cleaned the bathroom, listening to the Bee Gees.

2) I mopped the floor and cleaned the bathroom while listening to the Bee Gees.

 

1) A. What does he do for a living?

B. He works at a gas station. (習慣式:長久穩定的工作)

 

2) A. What’s he doing these days?

B. He’s working at a gas station. (進行式:只是目前的工作)

 

The sun rises in the east.

(習慣式:每天都如此 Fact)

 

The sun is rising in the east.

(進行式:此刻正在發生 ongoing event)

 

 

I’ve gotta → I’ve got to

語意等同助動詞 have to，表達「必須要」 在宴會中，妳需要先離開。

1. I’ve got to go. → I’ve gotta go.

2. I’ve got to leave. → I’ve gotta leave.

 

情態助動詞 modal auxiliaries

must:

• You must do your homework. ─ 責任好惡

• You must be his cousin! ─ 真實性

 

can

• You can do your homework. ─ 能力

• You can leave now! ─ 允許

• This can be your only chance. ─ 可能性

 

 

評斷

1. 好壞 (責任/能力/好惡):

attitude/preference

He should do his best You must work hard.

You can do it!

You may go now.

 

1. 是非 (可能/真實/確定性) : truth/certainty

He should be here any minute. It must be him.

This can be bad.

It may be good for you.

 

情態狀語與助詞

• Modal adverbials

1. He probably wrote a book.

2. She perhaps lived in this neighborhood.

3. Maybe he went to the States.

 

• Modal auxiliaries

1. He should certainly work hard.

2. He may perhaps invite her over for dinner.

3. It may probably rain tomorrow.

 

條件句

• 「習慣式」habitual
• 「未來」future

以「習慣式」表可能條件

1) I you work hard, you will get a good grade.

2) If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the outing.

3) I hope everything goes well for you.

 

以「未來」表未來

1) I you will work hard, I will too.

2) If you will marry me, I will be the happiest man.

 

與事實相反的條件句

Counterfactual 與事實相反

以「時間倒退」表違反事實

 

• Contrary to present fact

→  If she was a man, her life would be different.

如果她是個男人，她的生活就會不一樣。

 

• Contrary to past fact

→  If I had known it earlier, I would not have made the same choice.

如果我早知道，我就不會做出同樣的選擇。

 

— If she was a man, she would join the army.

如果她是男人，她會參軍。

 

— The problem would be solved if you could tell me that earlier.

如果你能早點告訴我，問題就解決了。

 

— If she had come home yesterday, she would have enjoyed the dinner with us.

如果她昨天回家，她會很享受和我們共進晚餐的。

 

— The problem would have been solved if you could have told me that earlier.

— 如果你能早點告訴我，問題就已經解決了。

 

 

時態和情態 Tense and Modality

• “Realis” of Present and Past tense

1) The cat is chasing the dog. (Present)

2) The cat chased the dog. (Past)

3) The cat has chased the dog. (Perfect)

 

• “Irrealis” of Future and Habitual tense

1) The cat will chase the dog.

2) The cat would chase the dog.

(Future) (Habitual)

 

假定詞 Presupposition

May vs. Might

• “Might” as a indicator of euphemism

1) He may do it

• straight to the point

• Simply express the certainty

 

2) He might do it

• Be euphemistic/indirect/polite

• Usually express the less certainty about truth.

 

1) Duty:

You must become his friend.

 

2) Probability:

It must be the case that you are his friend.

 

 

助動詞 Modal Auxiliaries

Should

1. He should go to the party.

2. He should be in the party.

 

May

(one’s duty)

(possibility)

1. You may leave now. (permission)

2. You may be right.

(possibilities)

 

Can

A 1. joke: You can do it

(abilities) 2. Student: You can Can I leave go to now. restroom? (permission) 3. Teacher: You can I don’t be wrong. know. Can (possibilities) you?

 

“Given that” vs. “Providing that”

1.前提是 “Provided that”

— He will do the dishes provided that she cooks. 只要她做飯，他就會做菜。

(If she cooks, he will do the dishes.)

假設條件  To mark the non-real conditions.

 

2. “Given that”

–Given that she cooked, he volunteered to do the dishes. 既然她做飯，他就主動做飯。

(Since she cooked, he did the dishes.)

考慮已知事實 To take the known fact into consideration

 

 

Hope vs. Wish

hope（希望可以實現）

• To hope for something we may obtain

1. I hope tomorrow is a sunny day.

2. Hope for the best and plan for the worst.

 

wish （希望的事情超越人為控制）

• To wish for something beyond man’s control. （超越人為控制）