英语语法中的“时”与“体”之辩

Difference between Tense and Aspect in English Grammar

在英语语法里,时(tense)和体(aspect)是用来表达时间的范畴。时和体把事件和时间联系起来。当说话人把把事件和参照时间联系起来的时候,这就是"时"。然而一个事件往往有起始,发展和结束等阶段。这个事件是起始,是持续进行,还是完成,这是"体"。体反映了事件发展的状态。时体范畴密切相关,时是体的基础,没有时就没有体。二者的差异是人类的认知力在感知物质世界时视角的转变的结果。时,体反映了人类思维的丰富性和深刻性。

In English grammar, Tense and Aspect are the categories of time. Tense and Aspect connect the event with the time. Tense works when the speaker connects the event to the reference time. However, an event often has different stages such as the beginning, the development and the end, etc. Is the event at the beginning, in the development, or is it over Aspect works here, which shows the states of the process. Tense and Aspect often combine closely. Tense is more basic. There won't be Aspect without Tense. The distinction is due to the change of humans' cognitive perspective when we try to explore the material world. Tense and Aspect show the richness and the profundity of human mind.