Category of Correlation

(категория временной отнесенности)

Many scholars (Smirnitsky) are of the opinion that the English perfect – non-perfect forms represent a special grammatical category – the category of correlation which is expressed in the system of two-member opposemes: writes – has written; wrote – had written; writing – having written; to be written – to have been written, etc. showing whether the action is viewed as prior to (perfect forms) or irrespective of other actions or situations (non-perfect forms) (Smirnitsky, Barkhudarov).

The category of correlation is closely connected with those of tense and aspect.

All the views on the essence of the perfect forms in English may be classified into:

1) Otto Gespersen and others treat the perfect forms as a tense category.

2) Vorontsova Ilyish and others treat the perfect forms as an aspect category together with such forms as the continuous aspect and common aspect.

The category of correlation is characteristic of finites and non-finites of the indicative and the subjunctive mood (with the exception of the imperative mood, participle II and subjunctive I).

E.g. The plane is reported to have left (to leave). She speaks as if she had been there herself. His having taken the book is out of the question.

Many scholars find two perfect meanings: inclusive and exclusive.

E.g. How long have u been here? (inclusive). Where have u been (exclusive).

Gordon and Krylova distinguish 3 uses of the present perfect.

1) Present Perfect I shows that the action took part in the past without mentioning any definite circumstances under which it occurred: He is very sensitive. I have discovered that…

It is used to open up conversations, to introduce a new topic, to sum up a situation:

E.g. What is it they have done? So you have done nothing?

The attention is concentrated on the action itself.

2) Present Perfect II expresses an action, which began before the moment of speaking and continues into it or up to it.

E.g. I have known him since childhood.

3) Present Perfect III is used to express a future action.

E.g. When you have had your tea we’ll see about it. The main sphere of Present Perfect is direct speech.

The Past Perfect has the same meanings but is used mainly in narration, referring to the past: E.g. She was no fool. She had read much and with good sense.

The Future Perfect is used in two cases 1) to express a completed action before a given future moment and 2) an action which begins before a given moment in the future and continues into it or up to it; the later is rather seldom. E.g. I suppose we shall have made up our minds whom we going to elect.