AspectAspectLecture 11Lecture 11

What is the meaning of aspect? What is the meaning of aspect?

Aspect concerns Aspect concerns the manner in which the verbal the manner in which the verbal action is experienced or regarded.action is experienced or regarded.

The grammatical category of The grammatical category of AspectAspect is indicated is indicated in in the morphology of the verbsthe morphology of the verbs but but it it characterizes the whole sentencecharacterizes the whole sentence..

AspectAspect refers to how refers to how an eventan event or or actionaction is to be is to be

viewed viewed with respect to timewith respect to time, rather than to its , rather than to its actual location in time. actual location in time.

We can illustrate this using the We can illustrate this using the following examples: following examples: 

[1] David [1] David fellfell in love on his eighteenth in love on his eighteenth birthdaybirthday..   

in the past, especially on his 18in the past, especially on his 18thth birthday birthday

[2] David [2] David has fallenhas fallen in love in love..   

in the past, but quite recently; PERFECTIVE ASPECTin the past, but quite recently; PERFECTIVE ASPECT [3] David [3] David is fallingis falling in love in love..    still in progress; PROGRESSIVE ASPECTstill in progress; PROGRESSIVE ASPECT

Therefore, this category is based on Therefore, this category is based on three three functional oppositionsfunctional oppositions of forms: of forms:

perfectperfect ↔ ↔ non-perfectnon-perfect

progressiveprogressive ↔↔ non-non-progressiveprogressive

habitual habitual ↔↔ non-habitualnon-habitual

The semantic field of aspectualityThe semantic field of aspectuality can be can be

classified as follows (Comrie 1976):classified as follows (Comrie 1976):

AspectualityAspectuality

PerfectPerfect Non-perfectNon-perfect

PerfectivePerfective ImperfectiveImperfective

HabitualHabitual ContinuousContinuous

Non-progressive Non-progressive Progressive Progressive

ThreeThree of these aspectual meanings are of these aspectual meanings are expressed by means of expressed by means of the marked formsthe marked forms: : perfectperfect, , progressiveprogressive, , habitualhabitual. The rest of the . The rest of the meanings are expressed by means of meanings are expressed by means of the the unmarked formunmarked form..

The aspectual meanings involve the semantic The aspectual meanings involve the semantic features of features of

state/non-statestate/non-state, ,

durative/non-durativedurative/non-durative, ,

limitive/non-limitivelimitive/non-limitive..

The aspectual meanings can be defined in The aspectual meanings can be defined in the following way:the following way:

1.1. Perfect1.1. Perfect → it makes an explicit → it makes an explicit reference to the relation between an reference to the relation between an implied resultant situation and a previous implied resultant situation and a previous situation that brought about it.situation that brought about it.

1.2. Non-perfect1.2. Non-perfect → it locates the situation in → it locates the situation in time time without referring to its relation to without referring to its relation to another situationanother situation..

The aspectual meanings can be defined in The aspectual meanings can be defined in the following way:the following way:

1.2.1. Perfective1.2.1. Perfective → it presents a situation as → it presents a situation as a single wholea single whole without distinction of the without distinction of the separate phases that make up the separate phases that make up the situation:situation:

He scored several goals last monthHe scored several goals last month..1.2.2. Imperfective1.2.2. Imperfective → it denotes a durative → it denotes a durative

situation of non-state, situation of non-state, referring to its referring to its internal temporal structureinternal temporal structure, i.e. the , i.e. the successive phases of which the situation successive phases of which the situation consists.consists.

1.2.2. Imperfective1.2.2. Imperfective

1.2.2.1. Habitual1.2.2.1. Habitual → a semantic subtype of the → a semantic subtype of the Imperfective, representing a situation as Imperfective, representing a situation as a a characteristic feature of a whole period of characteristic feature of a whole period of timetime; with verbs of non-state it implies the ; with verbs of non-state it implies the successive occurrence of instances of the successive occurrence of instances of the situation:situation:

He used to be a teacher in his youth.He used to be a teacher in his youth.He used to send me postcards but not He used to send me postcards but not

letters.letters.He used to wear a moustache. He used to wear a moustache.

1.2.2.2. Continuous1.2.2.2. Continuous → a semantic subtype of the → a semantic subtype of the Imperfective; it represents Imperfective; it represents a durative situation a durative situation as non-habitualas non-habitual..

1.2.2.2. Continuous1.2.2.2. Continuous

1.2.2.2.1. Non-progressive1.2.2.2.1. Non-progressive → a subtype of the → a subtype of the Continuous; it represents Continuous; it represents a permanent a permanent situation of durative non-limitive naturesituation of durative non-limitive nature::

He is silly.He is silly.He lives at 10 Vitosha St.He lives at 10 Vitosha St.

1.2.2.2.2. Progressive1.2.2.2.2. Progressive → a subtype of the → a subtype of the Continuous; it represents Continuous; it represents a temporary situation a temporary situation of non-state of non-state as consisting of successive as consisting of successive phases:phases:

He is decorating the room.He is decorating the room.

Aspect always includes tense Aspect always includes tense

In [2] In [2] David David has fallenhas fallen in love in love and [3]  and [3] David David is fallingis falling in love in love above, the aspectual above, the aspectual auxiliaries are in the present tense, but auxiliaries are in the present tense, but they could also be in the past tense:  they could also be in the past tense: 

David David had fallenhad fallen in love in love -- Perfective Aspect, Past -- Perfective Aspect, Past Tense Tense

David David was fallingwas falling in love in love -- Progressive Aspect, -- Progressive Aspect, Past Tense  Past Tense 

The perfective auxiliary + verb + -The perfective auxiliary + verb + -eded, ,

the progressive auxiliary + verb + -the progressive auxiliary + verb + -inging

While aspect always includes tense, tense can occur While aspect always includes tense, tense can occur without aspect (David without aspect (David falls falls in love, David in love, David fellfell in love). in love).

Perfective Perfective AspectAspect

Progressive Progressive AspectAspect

Present TensePresent Tense has fallenhas fallen is fallingis falling

Past TensePast Tense had fallenhad fallen was fallingwas falling

Aspectual verbs Aspectual verbs

AspectAspect can describe different properties of an action: its can describe different properties of an action: its beginning, its incompletion and continuation, its repetitiveness, beginning, its incompletion and continuation, its repetitiveness, its incompletion, its termination, etc. its incompletion, its termination, etc.

Apart from the 2 aspects Apart from the 2 aspects grammaticalizedgrammaticalized in English, in English, progressive aspectprogressive aspect (incomplete, ongoing action) and (incomplete, ongoing action) and perfective aspectperfective aspect (completed action in the past with present (completed action in the past with present relevance) relevance)

Other aspects can be expressed by catenative verbs:Other aspects can be expressed by catenative verbs:- repeated action (repeated action (He He keptkept coming back coming back), ), - the beginning of an action (the beginning of an action (She She startedstarted writing / They writing / They beganbegan to to

eat / We should really eat / We should really getget going going), ), - or the end of an action (or the end of an action (She She stoppedstopped writing writing). ).