k7power
Member
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2017
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- German
- Home Country
- Germany
- Current Location
- Germany
Hi,
what was the reason for the naming of the English tenses? In the following examples, I will call all verb forms or structures that indicate time "tense".
For example, a verb form like "went" is called a past tense, but it is not only used to refer past events. It can also be used to refer to unreal present or future events. So why is the tense "went" called a past tense even though it can refer to another time than a past time.
A structure like "I'm going" is called a "present progressive". It can refer to a present time like in "I'm going to work now" or to a future time like in "I'm going to London tomorrow". The same question: why is the structure called a "present progressive" even though it can refer to a present or future time?
A structure like "will be" is called a "(simple) future". It can refer to a future time like in "It will be cold in the winter" or to a presen time like in "That will be the postman".
My guess is that the structures were named after their most typical use, which is the past time for the "past tense", the present time for the "present tense" and so on.
I'm aware of the difference between tense, time, aspect, that English has no "future tense" and that there is no one-to-one-relationship between tense and time. However, where does the naming for the tenses come from even though there is no direct relationship between tenses and time?
I would be really grateful for an helpful answer. If you can, please provide a solid literature source.
what was the reason for the naming of the English tenses? In the following examples, I will call all verb forms or structures that indicate time "tense".
For example, a verb form like "went" is called a past tense, but it is not only used to refer past events. It can also be used to refer to unreal present or future events. So why is the tense "went" called a past tense even though it can refer to another time than a past time.
A structure like "I'm going" is called a "present progressive". It can refer to a present time like in "I'm going to work now" or to a future time like in "I'm going to London tomorrow". The same question: why is the structure called a "present progressive" even though it can refer to a present or future time?
A structure like "will be" is called a "(simple) future". It can refer to a future time like in "It will be cold in the winter" or to a presen time like in "That will be the postman".
My guess is that the structures were named after their most typical use, which is the past time for the "past tense", the present time for the "present tense" and so on.
I'm aware of the difference between tense, time, aspect, that English has no "future tense" and that there is no one-to-one-relationship between tense and time. However, where does the naming for the tenses come from even though there is no direct relationship between tenses and time?
I would be really grateful for an helpful answer. If you can, please provide a solid literature source.