Representation of the perception situation by English Tenses

The purpose of this article is to examine English Tenses and their role in representing the perception category. Basing on the theoretical analysis, we can conclude that English is more prone to express perception. The main condition of representing the perception process is the simultaneity of the perception situation and the perceived situation within one time period. Simultaneity of the perception situation and the perceived situation rarely assumes full coincidence of time intervals. As we know, the simultaneity of two situations is expressed by verbs used in the same tense form. Representation of temporal coordination, simultaneity of the perceived situation and the perception situation, is excluded by Perfect and Simple tenses if we mean verbal expression. Diachronic interpretation and precedence meaning are dominant when we use the Perfect forms. Only semantics of verbs expresses their simultaneity: the perception process can not be separated from the perceived situation; it is their inherent property, the condition of their linguistic conceptualization. The role of tenses in expressing simultaneity is irrelevant. Continuous forms, the Present Continuous in particular, are used to express simultaneity. It is the basic meaning of Continuous. There is a paradox: verbs of perception must function in the Continuous in order to simultaneously express the perception situation and the perceived situation, but it is not happening. It can be assumed that the Continuous implies an act of perception, however, this provision requires some proof. The semantics of perceptual verbs is determined by tense. They can express the perception situation in the Perfect and Simple tenses if a simultaneously perceived situation is not represented in a similar tense. Functioning of perceptive verbs in the Continuous is not frequent. Representation of the perception process is possible in the case of coordination in the following tenses: Past Simple - Past Continuous; Past Simple - Past Simple, with the dominance of the latter. Representation of perception process is often limited by the use of Complex Object structures.

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