A Contrastive Study Of English TENSE System And French TENSE System

TENSE has always been a hot spot to discuss in the study of foreign languages. As to the English majors with French as their second foreign language, they often make some confusion by the similar form constructions of English TENSE and French TENSE. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish the uses of TENSES between the two languages.According to the Bo Bing's model of TENSE and the definition of key concepts (tense and aspect, perfective and imperfective) given by Comrie, this thesis employs the synchronic description and contrastive study to describe the classifications of English TENSE and French TENSE and compare the similar TENSES in English and French from the perspective of formation of TENSE and the meaning of aspect with reference to the concept of tense. Based on the approach of study, this thesis attempts to find out the similarities and differences in the meaning of the frequently confused TENSES in the similar or different forms in English and French.From the analysis of the study, it is found that not only the similar forms of TENSES but also the different forms of TENSES have the similar meaning. Meanwhile, some TENSES sound similar in the name but actually there is no any relationship between them. Furthermore, one TENSE in one language often relates to over one TENSE in the other language from the point of the meaning of aspect.It is concluded that the comparative study of TENSES from the viewpoint of the meaning of aspect will provide English learners a new perception to learn French TENSE in a purposeful and systematic way. What is more, this thesis is a basic study for the further study exploring the generating process of the English TENSE and French TENSE by the use of syntax theories.