VOA慢速英语--Using Past Forms to Describe Present, Future

 

Imagine that your cousin wants to ask his longtime girlfriend to marry him. And he needs you to help him find the right wedding ring. So, he takes you along to the ring shop. At the shop, an employee asks your cousin this:

Were you looking for any style in particular, sir?

But wait – why did the speaker use a past verb form to talk about something that is happening now? Why not say, “Are you looking…?” The answer is that past forms do not always have a past meaning.

In some situations, we use past tenses to describe the present, or even the future. Today, we will explore a few of those situations: expressing urgency¹; showing uncertainty² about plans; making polite requests; and presenting unreal possibilities.

To express urgency

The first one we’ll talk about is expressing urgency.

Picture yourself being on a trip with family. You are in one city and will travel by bus to another. It’s important for your group to get to the bus station on time – and your bus leaves in an hour!

Which of these examples sounds more urgent³?

The bus will be there at 12. It’s time to leave.

The bus will be there at 12. It’s time we left.

Right! The second sounds more urgent. The first example just means, “We should leave now.” But the second makes leaving sound more serious. It expresses the idea: “We really should have already left by now.”

We also use the phrase “It’s time…” to say that non-urgent things should have happened already. Here’s an example:

All of my shoes are old! It’s time I bought a new pair.

The speaker uses the past tense “bought” to express something that needs to happen in the near future.

For undecided plans

Next, let’s talk about undecided plans.

There are a few ways to say you have not yet decided⁴ what you want to do. For example, you can use modal verbs like “may,” as in “I may drive to the beach this weekend.”

Another way to express uncertainty about plans is to use a past tense verb. Which of these examples sounds more uncertain?

I'm thinking of driving to the beach this weekend.

I was thinking of driving to the beach this weekend.

Both examples show uncertainty, but the past continuous⁵ shows more uncertainty. The speaker used “was thinking” to show that she has not made up her mind. Maybe she won’t even go to the beach at all!

Use of the past continuous is common in expressing that plans are indefinite⁶, especially when you use them with the verbs “think” and “consider.”

To be polite

Next, I was wondering if we could talk about being polite.

In English, polite language is less direct than casual⁷ language. So, in polite questions and requests, we often use past verb forms, including the past continuous.

Suppose you had trouble with your computer and dropped it off for repairs. A few days later, you call the repair shop to find out if it’s ready. Which of these do you think sounds more polite?

Hi, is my computer ready yet? 

Hi, I was wondering if my computer was ready yet.

Exactly – the second is far more polite. The first sentence is too direct and could be taken as rude in some instances⁹.

Note that, in writing, sentences about someone “wondering” something end with a period, not a question mark.

Here’s another example to consider. Which sounds more polite?

Are you free Tuesday? We hope you can watch the baby.

Are you free Tuesday? We were hoping you could watch the baby.

Again, the second sounds more polite with “were hoping” – the past continuous. In the first, use of the simple present “hope” sounds as if the speaker assumes¹¹ the answer will be yes.

For unreal situations

And now onto unreal situations.

In English, there are a lot of ways to express hypotheticals. And, when the situation presented is unreal or unlikely¹², we use a past tense to express distance from reality.

We do this, for example, in some conditionals¹³ and with statements about wishes. For instance⁸, we would say: “I wish I had a million dollars” not “I wish I have a million dollars.”

Another way to present a hypothetical is with the verb “suppose.” This verb has two main uses: making suggestions and expressing possibility.

When we present unreal or less certain possibilities with “suppose,” we use a past verb form.

In fact, I did so a few minutes ago. Listen to two examples. Which sounds less realistic? You’ll recognize one of them:

Suppose you have trouble with your computer and drop it off for repairs.

Suppose you had trouble with your computer and dropped it off it for repairs.

The second example sounds less likely, as it should; it is only an imaginary¹⁴ situation.

The phrase “what if” has the same meaning as “suppose” and is used in the same way, for example:

What if you had trouble with your computer and dropped it off for repairs.

Well, it’s time I said goodbye. When you get a chance, I was wondering if you could try out the grammar exercise.

I’m Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

tense – n. a form of a verb that is used to show when an action happened

phrase – n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence

uncertainty – n. he quality or state of being doubtful¹⁵ or unknown

casual – adj. suited for ordinary use when you are relaxing; not suited for serious or official speech and writing

drop off – phrasal verb. to take something or a someone to a place and then leave

rude – adj. not having or showing concern or respect for the rights and feelings of other people

assume¹⁰ – v. to think that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true

hypothetical – n. not real: imagined as an example

1 urgency   

n.紧急，迫切

参考例句：

• In case of urgency,call the police.一旦发生紧急情况，打电话给警察。
• This is a matter of great urgency.这是一件十分紧急的事情。

2 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

3 urgent   

a.紧急的，急迫的，紧要的

参考例句：

• He asked to see the manager for something urgent. 他有急事求见经理。
• A part of this urgent task was allotted to us. 这项紧急任务的一部分分给了我们。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 continuous   

adj.继续的，连续的，持续的，延伸的

参考例句：

• She finally got in after 10 years'continuous effort.坚持不懈地努力了十年后，她终于当选了。
• We must be continuous to study.我们必须不断学习。

6 indefinite   

adj.不明确的，模糊的，不定的，无限的

参考例句：

• The store will be closed for an indefinite period.这家商店将无限期关闭。
• He gave me an indefinite answer.他给了我一个含糊其辞的答复。

7 casual   

adj.漠不关心，冷漠的；随便的，非正式的；偶然的，碰巧的

参考例句：

• He earns a living by casual labour.他靠做临时工为生。
• The guests wore casual clothes.客人们穿着便服。

8 instance   

n.例，例证，实例

参考例句：

• Can you quote me a recent instance?你能给我举一个最近的例子吗？
• He's a greedy boy,yesterday,for instance,he ate all our biscuits!他是个贪吃的孩子――比如，他昨天把我们的饼干都吃了！

9 instances   

n.例子，实例( instance的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The report highlights a number of instances of injustice. 这篇报道重点列举了一些不公正的实例。
• I can cite quite a few instances to illustrate. 我可以举出好几件事来说明。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 assume   

vt.假装；假定，设想；承担；呈现，采取

参考例句：

• I assume that he won't cheat you.想来他是不会骗你的。
• We can't assume anything in this case.在这种情况下我们不可能做出假设。

11 assumes   

取得（权力）( assume的第三人称单数 )； 假设； 假定； 呈现

参考例句：

• The motion of matter always assumes certain forms. 物质的运动总是表现为一定的形式。
• It is usually the woman who assumes overall care of the baby. 通常由女性负责照顾孩子的方方面面。

12 unlikely   

adj.未必的，多半不可能的；不大可能发生的

参考例句：

• It was very unlikely that he would do that.他不见得会做那种事。
• It is unlikely that she will come. 她不大可能来了。

13 conditionals   

n.条件句，从句，条件式( conditional的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Conditionals are used to about possible, imaginary or impossible conditions. 条件句用于谈论有可能的、想像的或不可能的状况。 来自互联网
• Macros containing conditionals will automatically update their visual feedback as appropriate during play. 宏中若有条件式存在时，会依照条件式自动更新该宏的技能、物品描述。 来自互联网

14 imaginary   

adj.想象中的，假想的，虚构的，幻想的；虚数的

参考例句：

• All the characters in this book are imaginary.此书中的所有人物都是虚构的。
• The boy's fears were only imaginary.这小孩的恐惧只是一种想象。

15 doubtful   

adj.难以预测的，未定的；怀疑的，可疑的

参考例句：

• Let's try to clear up our difficult and doubtful points.让我们设法把难处和疑点解决一下。
• Everyone was doubtful at first,but his statement in detail held up.起初大家都怀疑，但他的详细叙述证明情况属实。