UNIVERSITY GOCE DELCEV STIP FACULTY OF PHILOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

MORPHOLOGY 1 Lecture 5
M.A. Snezana Kirova

ENGLISH VERBS
The English verbs are categorized by four main categories: TENSE is marked by s or V-ed1 (the verbal forms are present and past) ASPECT is marked by to be + V-ing (the verbal forms are progressive and non-progressive) PHASE is marked by to have + V-ed2 (the verbal forms are perfect and non-perfect) VOICE is marked by to be +V-ed2 (the verbal forms are active and passive)

Tense

Tense refers to the time of an event - it could be present, past or future Grammatical tense is the use of auxiliary verbs or inflections to convey whether the action or state is before, simultaneous with, or after some reference point. The reference point could be a past, present, or future time of reference previously established in the sentence.

You can find the part about present and past time in the textbook pages 29 - 38

Means of Expressing Future Time

In its long history, English has not developed a special verb form that might be rightly labeled future tense corresponding to the time/aspect parallel for present and past. We can be 100% sure or certain about the past and the present. But we can never be 100% certain about the future. In English there are several structures and tenses to talk about the future. It is usually the degree of certainty about the future that decides our choice of structure or tense.

English has two true tenses, past and present (sometimes analysed as nonpast). When we say that English has no future tense, we certainly do not mean that English has not the means of expressing future time.

Instead there are a number of constructions that can be used to denote futurity in English. The present lecture will deal with these future expressions.

1.Constructions denoting future time

In English, future time is expressed by means of modal auxiliaries, by semi-auxiliaries, or by the simple present and present progressive forms.

Future time from a present point of view

(1) Will/shall + infinitive
will with subjects of all three persons,

shall with a first person is used to indicate futurity. The future meanings are often coloured by modal meanings from predication to intention and volition. eg.

You will feel better after taking this medicine. Im sure I shant lose my way in the woods. I promise to pay back in time, but he wont lend the money to me.

(2) Will / shall + progressive infinitive

-For temporary activities taking place at a specific point of time in the future: This time tomorrow they will be

sunbathing on the beach. phoning you.

-The progressive form is also more polite: I will be

(3) Be going to + infinitive

refers to a future action or event or state that grows out of current plans or current causes(notice that the
pronunciation for "going to" is something like "gonna"--in all types of U.S. English except for formal speaking, of course).

What're you going to take next semester?

(4) Present Progressive

This verb form is used for fixed arrangements, plans or programme: We are having meat and potatoes for lunch. Notice the use of the future time adverbials: We are taking a

drama course next month.

(5) Be (about) to + infinitive

the be (about) to + verb version is used for future requirements--and has an official feel to it--something about the implementation of a rule or a necessity. the be about to+ verb expresses immediate future: We

are just about to leave.

(6) Simple Present - is used in 2 ways:

First, for a scheduled event:

The new store opens tomorrow morning.

Second, in a subordinate clause when the main clause has a future time meaning and structure. After he studies Spanish, he will take a trip to Mexico.

(7) Present Progressive

This verb form is used for fixed arrangements, plans or programme: We are having meat and potatoes for Notice the use of the future time adverbials: We are

lunch.

taking a drama course next month.

Future time from a past point of view

Would + infinitive

Used in narration: Whenever her

grandmother was ill the little Red Riding Hood would bring her cookies. He said the train would arrive soon.

In indirect speech (past equivalent of will):

Was / were going to + infinitive

with him.

Unfulfilled intention: He was going to take me

 Past Progressive Was + infinitive

(past equivalent of present progressive): I was

helping her in the hospital the next day.

For arrangements: The concert was to be held

next month. Destiny: He was to be a famous painter.

Was / were (about) to + infinitive meaning on the point of: She was about
to leave when the door opened.

Past time from a future point of view

Future Perfect
- for future activity or state that will be completed before another point or period in future (time expressions: by, at, before):By the end of this year you will have been married for 50 years.

Future Perfect Progressive

to stress the duration of an event in the future taking place before another future event:
*

The orchestra will have been practicing for 3 hours before the soloist gets here.