The past dynamic to refer to simultaneous processes

The patterns of relative position and lengths of simultaneous pro­cesses denoted by verbs in the Past Dynamic (~~) and the Past Static ( ׳ ) tenses can be represented graphically as follows:

(1) ~.~ , ~’~ the so called "time frame" (58% of all the uses of the Past Dynamic);

(2) __

~~ , ~~ , ~~ — synchronous processes;

(3) __

~~ , ~~ — the length of a process denoted by a verb in the Past Static is greater than that denoted by a verb in the Past Dynam­ic (See Ex. 1—3 on p. 20).

(4)~~’,‘~~ , ~~. , .~~ — a process denoted by a verb in the Past Dynamic ends or begins at' the moment when a process denoted by a verb in the Past Static takes place.

Simultaneous processes are mostly expressed in different sentences as well as in sentences with an attributive, object, or a time clause introduced by the conjunction when-, as-, or while.

Simultaneous Processes (~.~ , ~’~) in Different Sentences and Sen­tences with Attributive, Object and Independent Clauses:

In Different Sentences: 1. I felt his pulse. It was beating quickly and feebly (W. S. Maugham); 2. The atmosphere was so close that she stayed for a moment by the door. A very large fire was burning. The room was exceedingly hot (H. Walpole); 3. They saw Joe coming down the hill with the gasoline man. Each was carrying a can (D. Russell); 4. I stormed out of the house. The chief was sitting at home as comfortable as you please (W. Guin).

In Sentences with an Attributive Clause: 1. We went back and then worked our way into the crowd that were crossing the bridge (E. Heming-

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way); 2. He gulped the tea that was practically boiling (D. Cusack); 3. She grabbed the waiter who was passing (W. S. Maugham).

In Sentences with an Object Clause: 1. Then they saw that she was crying (W. S. Maugham); 2. He saw that his hand was trembling (E. Hem­ingway); 3. On his way to the station he remembered that he was taking nothing to the kiddies (K. Mansfield).

In Sentences with Independent Clauses: 1. I discovered the bell-handle with difficulty, it was growing so dark (Ch. Dickens); 2. She lifted the cup to her mouth but her hand was shaking (J. Braine); 3. I looked up. A young man was standing scowling over us (J. Braine); 4. Then he saw Jan. She was leaning against the wall of the baggage-shed near the end of the wharf (D. Cusack).

Synchronous Processes:

l."I did not know what I was doing" (M. Mitchell); 2. "Doctor," the sister was asking in a voice whose urgency matched his own (D. Cusack); 3. The clouds were breaking and a golden misty sunset was pouring into the garden. The raindrops on the brilliantly green trees glittered widly and all the birds were singing at the tops of their voices (G. Gibbons).

Simultaneous and Synchronous Processes in Sentences with a When-, As-, or While- Clause

From among sentences with a when-, as-, or while-clause the most frequent are those with a when-clause (50%), the other sentences ma­king 26% and 24% respectively. The patterns in which the Past Dynamic is used in such sentences are listed in Tables XII, XIII and XIV.

Patterns 1—4 make about 89% of the total use of the Past Dynamic in sentences with a when-clause. This is explained by compatibility of the meanings of the conjunction when (most commonly "at a certain moment") and the representation, by verbs in the Past Static, of pro­cesses in their limits, as well as the aspectual meaning of the Past Dynamic (a representation of verbal processes as developing) and a period of time.

Examples of Pattern 1 (~.~ v when): 1. His face was expanding into a smile when Hurstwood's eye caught his own (Th. Dreiser); 2. "You were sleeping when I left" (E. Hemingway); 3. Woodbury was waiting in the hall when Ralph arrived (S. Lewis).

Examples of Pattern 2 (~’~ ^ when): 1. When he turned around he was holding a leather strap (E. Caldwell); 2. When he reached the door of the flat the telephone was ringing (G. Gordon).

Examples of Pattern 3 (~.~ ^ when) and 4 (~’~ v when): 1. One day, when June was coming to its end, Laura said to him: " I shall have to go home next week" (Th. Wolfe); 2. One evening, when I was turning the gas down in the lobby, Kate came in (A. Cronin); 3."You'll want to see the city first, won't you?" said Minnie, when they were eating (Th. Drei­ser); 4. He came in one morning when I was having breakfast (W. S. Mau­gham).

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Table XII

No	Pattern	Example	%
1	~.~ v when	He was working when she arrived	54.0
2	~’~ ^ when	When she arrived he was working	19.6
3	~.~ ^ when	When he was working she arrived	9.0
4	~’~ v when	She arrived when he was working	6.2
5	~~ ^ when	When he was working he was singing	3.2
6	~~ ^ when	When he was working he sang	2.8
7	~~ v when	He was singing when he worked	2.2
8	~~ v when	He was singing when he was working	1.7
9	__ ~~ v when	He sang when he was working	1.1

Examples of Patterns 5—9:

1. At the very moment when Harran was learning the rudiments of farming, Lyman was entering the State University (F. Norris); 2. When I was starting the car she didn't speak at all (J. Braine); 3. The moon was shining through the tree stems when they sat side by side on the log seat (J. Galsworthy); 4. "That's what I was thinking when I was waiting" (J. Galsworthy); 5. It was a person I used to know in Galsway when I was living there with my grandmother (J. Joyce).

Sentences with,an As-Clause (see Table XIII).

Table XIII

Exampes of Pattern 1 (~.~ ^ as) 1. At a quarter-past five, just as Elaine was getting up to make herself a cup of tea, Iveen suddenly came in (S. Gibbons); 2. Down in the vestibule by the front door as she was opening it, Stack's voice said: " Excuse me, miss" (J. Galsworthy)

Example of Patterns 2 (~’~ v as), 4 (~.~ v as), and 10 (~’~ ^ as):

1. We jumped on the bus as it was going out of the station square (J. Braine); 2. "By the way Mr. Eden," she called back as she was leav­ing the room (J. London); 3. The twilight was falling as we entered the little fishing village (Ch. Dickens); 4. Hilmawas just walking as Annixter pushed the curtain aside (F. Norris); 5. As I engaged the first gear, I was again riding through Lincolnshire (J. Braine)

Examples of Patterns 5 __ __

( ~~ ^ as) , 6 (~~ v as) and 9 (~~ ^ as): 1. As Ben worked he was thinking about corn (W. S. Gray); 2. Slyly he con­templated her as she was undressing (Th. Dreiser); 3. As I was walking home I did not envy my colleague (A. Munthe).

Examples of Patterns 7 (~~ ^ as) and 8 (~~ v as): "You know just as I was coming round that point I was thinking of you" (Th. Dreiser); " I was coming in as he was going out" (J. Galsworthy).