Stylistic resources of tense and aspect in English and Ukrainian

The Verb.

The verb both in English and Ukrainian has more developed system of grammatical categories than any other part of speech. The stylistic function of verb is the result of complex correlation between a verb form and syntactic structures in which this form can be used and/or grammatical transposition. The most characteristic feature of English is the polysemy of the English verb tense forms. The functions of certain tense forms are regarded as stylistically motivated. Let us consider some examples of expressive connotations that arise due to the specific usage of tense forms.

Continuous aspect is more expressive that Indefinite. It is used do denote the action that expose the hero’s character, to render the meaning of surprise, indignation, doubt, etc.

Everything’s so damned considerate! (I. Show).

Ruth: You are burning yourself out. And for what?..

George: You don’t even begin to understand – you’re no different from the rest. Burning myself out! You bet I’m burning myself out! I’ve been doing that for so many years now – and who in hell cares? (J. Osborne).

…But what about me? I’m going to look a proper bloody fool, aren’t I? (Ibid).

In Ukrainian the similar function and the meaning of continuity is supported by different lexical and syntactical means: contextual synonyms, repetition, gradation, etc.:

... уральський метал рве, стрясає перед ним ворожі укріплення...снаряди гвардійських мінометів летять і летять із-за спини ... (О. Гончар).

Present forms used instead of past or future are also stylistically marked; they make the text more vivid and expressive:

Then he comes back, crooks his finger, gives you cultured pearl necklace, he’s smuggled in and you fall into his arms (D. Cusack).

Ат вбігла смерком наша Оксана в хату до матері. Раденька, веселенька, сміється, щебече, бігає, розказує, де була, що бачила (Г. Квітка-Основ’яненко).

English archaic verbal forms perform different stylistic functions (dost, knowest, livest, hast – for the 2^nd person singular, present; doth, knowth, liveth – for the 3d person singular present and hadst, didst for past; єсьм, єси, веліти ). They create the atmosphere of past epochs or make the utterance solemn and poetic.

Transposition of tense and personal forms of verb is another potential way to change the tone and modality of an utterance. The interchange between the first and the second person singular makes the utterance sound either more confidential, intimate or, on the contrary, - more generalized and impersonal:

Ідеш і слухаєш, і чуєш рідну землю (Л. Костенко).

You kept from thinking and it was all marvelous. You were equipped with goon insides so that you did not go to pieces that way that moat of them had… (E. Hemingway).

Ukrainian full, contracted and diminutive verb forms can express different shades of stylistic meaning: літати – літа, лягати – ляга; спати – спать – спатки, спатоньки; їсти – їстоньки etc. Most contracted and diminutive forms of Ukrainian verb (characteristic to colloquial or dialectal types of language) being used in poetry or emotive prose either perform the function of dialectal stylization or secure the solemn tone of the utterance.

Розгорта знамена широкий небокрай (А. Малишко).

І знов Донеччина...І вітер верби хиле (В. Сосюра).

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The pronoun. Stylistic functions of pronoun	\|	Conclusion

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