62 Chapter 3 Verbs, tense, aspect, and mood
we are considering only cases where the
two constructions are in contrast.)
14. For each of the following statements,
imagine that someone called Jill made that
statement yesterday. Write reports of the
speech events in question, in the form Jill
said that ... For each one give a back
shifted report, and in those cases where
backshift is optional give a non-back
shifted report too. (For example, given It's
too late you would supply Jill said it was
too late and Jill said it's too late.)
i My fa ther has a weak heart.
ii Ed is arriving this evening.
iii I have a terrible headache
iv I'm moving to Florida this month.
v Everyone thinks I'm overreacting.- For the following examples, give counter
parts in which the clause with the under
lined verb has been put in the perfect tense.
i I hope to finish soon.
ii Yo u should 1dJ. her the truth.
iii They mislaid the file.
iv He admined being an alcoholic.
v She i! very helpful. - Describe, as carefully as you can, the dif
ference in meaning or use between the [a]
and [b] members of the following pairs.
a. I've been in the army fo r two years.
b. I was in the army fo r two years.
ii a. Have you seen Jill?
b. Did you see Jill?
iii a. It was the best meal I've had all week.
b. It was the best meal I had all that week.
iv a. She has gone to Moscow.
b. She went to Moscow.
v a. I've got the milk.
b. I got the milk. - As in Exercise 13, classify the following
conditionals as open or remote, and give
the counterpart of the opposite category.
These examples differ from the earlier
ones in that they all involve the perfect
construction.
i If she hadn't sold her shares she would
be very rich.
ii If the secretary hadn't called the police
someone else would have.
iii If Ed has gone on holiday you can stay
in his room.
iv If Jill didn't report the fa ult, Max may
have.
v If you hadfinished your work yesterclay,
you could come with us tomorrow.
18. Give progressive aspect counterparts to
the following examples.
She lived in Berlin.
ii He may regret his impulsiveness.
iii They neglect their children.
iv I have read the newspaper.
v He didn't pay any attention.- Discuss the difference in meaning or use
between the [a] and [b] members of the
following pairs.
a. I cycle to work.
b. I'm cycling to work.
ii a. When To m called she phoned me.
b. When To m called she was phoning
me.
iii a. The train arrived.
b. The train was arriving.
iv a. Yo u annoy me.
b. Yo u're annoying me.
v a. He wrote an editorial.
b. He was writing an editorial. - Discuss the interpretation of the following
examples with respect to the distinction
between epistemic, deontic, and dynamic
modality, bearing in mind that some of
them are ambiguous.
i Yo u needn't bother to answer.
ii It must surely rain soon.
iii They should be in Pa ris by now.
iv She can't live with her parents.
v It may easily be shown that this is fa lse.
vi These animals can be dangerous.
vii It needn't have been Jill that wrote the
note.
viii Bill is one of those people who must
always have the last word.
ix There could be some other reason.
x Could I have another beer, please?