The Category of Person and Number

The categories of person and number are closely connected with each other because of the situational semantics referring the process to the subject of the situation that is to its central substance which exists in inseparable unity of quality and quantity. Secondly they are immediately related to the subject. Both categories are different from the other categories of the finite verb as they do not convey any inherently verbal semantics, the nature of both of them is purely reflective. These two categories are purely formal: they formally mark the relationship between the action and the doer (the recipient) of the action.

In the present tense the expression of the category of person is divided into three peculiar subsystems. The first subsystem includes the modal verbs that have no personal inflexions; the category of person is neutralized with can, may and etc. The second subsystem is made up by the unique verbal lexeme be.It has 3 supplitive personal forms. The third subsystem presents the regular, normal expression of person with the remaining multitude of the English verbs.

The category of number can be seen with the archaic forms of the unique be, both in the present tense and in the past. The opposition of the category consists in the unmarked plural form for all the persons being contrasted against the marked singular form for each separate person, each singular person thereby being distinguished by its own, specific form.

In Russian subject – predicate agreement is purely formal: if the subject is in the plural the predicate is also in the plural and vice versa. In English we should consider several factors:

- formal agreement: the table is / the tables are;

- the semantic factor (the meaning of the subject and its structure):

nouns of multitude (the agreement is purely semantic): people, police, cattle – are used in plural if they denote a multitude and in singular if they are collective nouns:

The family was united on this question. The enemy is suing for peace.

My family are always fighting among themselves. The enemy were showing up in groups of three or four to turn in their weapons. The government have not announced a new policy. The team are playing in the test matches next week.

the subject is expressed by a group of nouns, which form a single idea, unit:

Where is my hat and gloves?

Considering the subject – predicate agreement there is a strong tendency to agree the verb predicate with the communicative center:

Fools are my theme! (Byron)

But sometimes there may be hesitations: stars was / were our only guide.

The form of the predicate depends on the syntactical construction in which the noun is used: in this case there is no general rule:

the teacher as well as the students was...;

either... or – the form of the predicate is defined by the second noun;

both... and... – the predicate is in plural;

It’s I who am to blame.

It is dictionaries that are needed.

The Tense

The expression of all grammatical tense is one of the typical functions of the verb as the meaning of process finds complete realization only if presented in certain time conditions. That’s why the expression or non-expression of tense of grammatical time together with the mood form constitutes the basis of the verbal category of finitude.

Time denotations can be absolutely and non-absolutely:

- absolutely names of time: now, last week. These expressions give a temporal characteristic of an event in reference to the present;

- the non-absolute time denotation can be either relative or factual. Relative expression of time correlates two or more events showing them either preceding the other or following the other or happening at one at the same time. The factual expression of time either states the astronomical time of an event or conveys its meaning in terms of historical landmarks: “under Eltsin”.

Two temporal categories are recognized in modern English. Both of them answer the question: what is the timing of the process?

The category of primary time provides for the absolute expression of the time of the process denoted by the verb. The formal sign of the opposition is with regular verbs, suffix –ed and with irregular verbs, phonemic change. The suffix marks the verbal form of the past time leaving the opposite form unmarked. An additional reason for identifying the verbal past – present time system as a separate grammatical category is provided by the fact that this system is specifically marked by the ‘do’ forms of the indefinite aspect.

The category of prospective time.

The contrast which underlines this category is between an after-action and non-after action. Future is the marked member of this opposition. The category of prospect is different in principal from the category of primary time while the primary time is present oriented, the prospective time is purely relative. The future form of the verb shows that the denoted process is prospected as an after-action relative to some of the action or state or event, the timing of which marks the zero level for it.

A certain modal colouring of the English Future can’t be denied, especially in the verbal form of the first person. The future of the English word is highly specific as its auxiliary are verbs of obligation and volition. In some modal uses of the verb “shall and will”, the idea of the future is not expressed at all. Within the system of the English future tense peculiar minor category is expressed which effects only the forms of the 1^st person It is constituted by the oppositions of the forms will, shall + inf. expressing voluntary or non-voluntary future. And it may be called the category of futurity option. This category is neutralized in the contracted form ‘ll.

The oppositional basis of the category of prospective time is neutralized in certain uses and the process of neutralization is connected with the shiften of the forms of primary time (present and past) into the sphere of relative tenses: “The government meets an emergency session today”. This kind of neutralizing is oppositional reduction.

Exercises:

1. Match the sentences with the meaning of the verb in the present tense:

2. What verbs do not generally have a continuous form?

run, look, hate, write, believe, hear, play, listen to, climb, be, understand, know.

3. Explain the number of the verbs:

1) The family is determined to press its claim.

2) Five hundred thousand pounds was donated to build a new hospital wing.

3) The jury are all staying at the Park Hotel.

4) The jury is ready to give the verdict.

5) Physics is a very difficult subject.

6) Its I who am guilty.

7) Both Ann and Tom were late.

8) Neither Jim nor Carol has got a car.

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 2193