In general, Jespersen, unlike the CGEL, doesn’t explain the use of the following tenses as one would expect from a standard grammar (the CGEL clearly explains the meanings and the use of the three tenses in question by clarifying these aspects by means of easily comprehensible examples), but relates the Present Perfect, the Past Tense and the Past Perfect to each other and gives various quotations for each aspect he deals with. Therefore, it may sometimes be a bit confusing to comprehend every detail of Jespersen’s way of argumentation.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Definition of the Present Perfect
- Relations between the Present Tense and the Present Perfect
- Relations between the Present Perfect and the Past Tense
- Various Subjuncts
- Time not expressly indicated
- Past Tense for Before-Past
- The Perfect
- Perfect for Before-Future
- Tenses with, since'
- The Past Perfect
- Imaginative use of Tenses
- Back-Shifting
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper compares and contrasts the accounts of the past tense, present perfect, and past perfect provided by Otto Jespersen and the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CGEL). It explores the differences in their approaches to defining and analyzing these tenses, highlighting Jespersen’s reliance on examples and quotations compared to the CGEL’s more systematic and explicit explanations.
- Defining the Present Perfect and its relation to the present tense
- Analyzing the connection between the present perfect and the past tense
- Examining the use of subjuncts and their impact on tense selection
- Exploring Jespersen’s concept of inclusive time
- Contrasting the views of Jespersen and the CGEL on the nature of tense and aspect
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins with an introduction that sets the stage for the comparison between Jespersen's approach and the CGEL. It then moves on to define the present perfect, highlighting Jespersen's view of it as a kind of present tense, and contrasting it with the CGEL's definition as a perfective aspect.
Chapter 3 explores the relationship between the present tense and the present perfect, considering Jespersen's examples of "have got" and "is dead/has died." It also introduces the concept of inclusive time as used by Jespersen.
Chapter 4 delves into the complex relations between the present perfect and the past tense, analyzing the role of subjuncts and time indicators in tense selection. The chapter also compares and contrasts the views of Jespersen and the CGEL on this topic.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the text are the English present perfect, past tense, past perfect, tense, aspect, Otto Jespersen, Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CGEL), time subjuncts, inclusive time, and grammatical analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Jespersen's and the CGEL's approach to tenses?
Jespersen relies heavily on various quotations and relates the tenses to each other, whereas the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CGEL) provides more systematic, explicit explanations and easily comprehensible examples.
How does Jespersen define the Present Perfect?
Jespersen views the Present Perfect as a kind of present tense, whereas the CGEL defines it as a perfective aspect.
What is 'inclusive time' in Jespersen's grammatical theory?
Inclusive time is a concept used by Jespersen to explain the relationship between the present tense and the present perfect, often illustrated by examples like "have got."
Which three English tenses are compared in this paper?
The paper compares and contrasts the accounts of the Past Tense, the Present Perfect, and the Past Perfect.
Does the paper discuss the imaginative use of tenses?
Yes, the paper includes a section on the imaginative use of tenses as well as the concept of back-shifting.
What role do 'subjuncts' play in this tense analysis?
The analysis examines how various time subjuncts impact the selection between the present perfect and the past tense.
- Quote paper
- Oliver Kast (Author), 2000, Jespersen's and the CGEL's accounts of the Past Tense, the Present Perfect and the Past Perfect - a comparison, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/14315
