Basic Clause Patternsat least three more dates in this pattern and then fully and accurately
describe the pattern. (b) Create at least three date expressions based
on one other pattern that we use, then fully and accurately describe
that pattern as well. (c) Is this second pattern more likely to occur in
written English than in spoken, or vice versa? Imagining that you are
teaching these patterns to someone who has never encountered them
might help you to articulate them precisely.
- English has several ways of expressing time, some used primar-
ily in written language and some more likely to occur in the spoken
language. For example, as this is being written it is 1:20 p.m. (a) Cre-
ate at least three more time expressions of this sort, then fully and
accurately describe this pattern. (b) Create at least three time ex-
pressions based on one other pattern that we use, then fully and ac-
curately describe that pattern as well. (c) Is this second pattern more
likely to occur in written English than in spoken, or vice versa? Again,
imagining that you are teaching these patterns to someone who has
never encountered them might help you to articulate them precisely.
We shift our focus now to a discussion of a system of time reference that
employs an implicit and constantly moving reference point. Imagine that
you call the garage where you left your car for repairs to ask if the car is
ready. The receptionist who answers the phone says, The mechanic is working
on it right now. When does now refer to? We can paraphrase the reception-
ist’s answer as The mechanic is working on it as I speak. So now refers to the
time at which the utterance it occurs in is said.
Exercise
How about then? Does then simply refer to times other than those we
would refer to as now, or is it somewhat more complicated? Make up
some sentences with then and work out the rules for using it.
Many expressions besides now and then depend for their full interpreta-
tion on identifying the time at which they are said. They include today,
yesterday, and tomorrow. Today refers to the 24 hour period beginning at
midnight and extending to the next midnight, within which the expression
is said. So if on 6/25/2008 I say I’ll do it today then I am saying that I will