进一步探讨英语动词的体

More on the “Aspect”of the English Verb

英语动词有没有"体"这个语法范畴?如果有,又和"时态"关系如何?这是一个长期以来一直备受探讨和争论的问题。首先是试图参照B.Comrie的见解,基于"内部和外部视点"的理论,认为时态是指示性的,是说话者从外部捕捉事情发生的时间;而体则是窥视到了事情发生时间的内部,了解事情的发生呈现着怎样的状况,等等。因此,观察时态和体两者的立脚点有所不同,也就有必要设定"体"这个语法范畴。在这个前提下,对历史上各家有关的理论作了探讨,认为目前有不少人提出的"两时两体"系统是良好的,但也发现这"两时两体"系统存在着一定的学术"漏洞",因而提出英语动词应当分析为具有三个"体"(零位体、完成体、进行体)和两种时态(现在时、过去时),以弥补"两时两体"系统的若干不足。

What will be the relationship between＂aspect＂and＂tense＂if the English verb is categorized with the grammaticalising of＂aspect＂？ This issue has remained controversial. B. Comrie gives the definition of tense and aspect,believing that tense is deictic while aspect is internal. Tense is deictic in the sense that it locates situations in time with reference to a certain moment,while aspect is not concerned with relating the time of the situation to any other time-point,but rather with the internal temporal constituency of the one situation. We could state the difference as one between situation-internal time（ aspect） and situation-external time（ tense）. Based on this theory and a general review of the major tense-aspect systems hitherto advanced by different grammarians,this paper believes that the currently much advocated＂two tenses and two aspects＂system is good except for some hidden inadequacy. In order to complement this system,this paper suggests a scheme that consists of three aspects（ zero,perfect,and progressive） and two tenses（ present and past）.