Chapter 5
Grammatical Categories and Word Classes
Exercise 5.2Verbal Categories
Identify the meaning or function of the present tense in each of the following sentences.
Example: The chemical composition of water is H2O.
Answer: timeless statement
Still waters run deep.
Classes end November 30.
Janet bites her nails.
I think he was wrong.
Anna Karenina commits suicide.
Yesterday, I'm in a store and it's held up.
The earth revolves around the sun.
We hear that you are going to be a grandparent soon.
The early bird catches the worm.
I know the answer.
Napier passes the ball to Jones.
Phyllis teaches elementary school.
Identify each perfect aspect in the following as continuative or resultative in meaning.
Example: A car accident has just occurred at the corner.
Answer: resultative
I have found some money.
We have walked around the entire lake.
I have forgotten your name.
She has sneezed all morning.
Climbers have reached the summit all day.
We have known each other since we were children.
Identify the meaning or function of the progressive aspect in each of the following sentences.
Example: Someone is firing a gun.
Answer: iterative activity
Rosa is getting dressed.
The child is waking up.
It's snowing.
I'm forgetting things recently.
He's writing a paper.
They're all laughing.
Discuss what each of the following sentences shows concerning the formal expression of the passive.
Example: The balloons were released.
Answer: agentless be-passive
The kite got tangled in the tree.
The dried mud will brush off.
Your shoes need polishing.
You should brace yourself for the worst.
That is being taken care of.
The dog became confused by the loud noises.
Discuss what each of the following sentences shows concerning the formal expression of the subjunctive.
Example: Heaven preserve us.
Answer: inflected subjunctive in main clause
I suggest that she take another course.
If I were going, I could take you.
I was thinking of asking you to help.
This might do the trick.
The news is probably bad.
You're right, I'm sure
gnomic (proverbial) statement
future statement
habit
state
plot summary
narration in the present
timeless statement
information present
gnomic statement
state
instantaneous present
habit
resultative
resultative
resultative
continuative
continuative
continuative
continuous activity - endpoint not reached
process leading to an endpoint
continuous activity - no necessary endpoint
iterative activity
continuous activity - endpoint not reached
continuous activity - no necessary endpoint
agentless get passive
notional passive = ‘is capable of being brushed off’
active participle with passive meaning = ‘need to be polished’
middle/reflexive
progressive passive, agentless
become stative form
inflected subjunctive following suggest
inflected subjunctive in if- clause, modal auxiliary in main-clause
past tense used for politeness
modal auxiliary
first mention/previous mention
parenthetical clause