Two-photon absorption (TPA) resonance effects on the ultrafast pump-probe and transient grating (TG) responses of some transparent liquids excited with 400 nm pulses are demonstrated. The contribution of TPA and ground state Raman responses are separated in a TG experiment when the third-order polarization signal is viewed in the appropriate phase-matched direction as shown for the homodyne, TG response of CS2. The pump-probe dichroic responses of liquids with (CS2 and CH3I) and without (H2O, CCl4, and CH3OH) TPA resonances at 200 nm are compared. These results are discussed in the context of a perturbative third-order polarization treatment of TPA. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.