Limba Engleza

THE ASPECTUAL RECATEGORIZATION OF VERB PHRASES

Predicates shift from their prototypical class due to various elements in the verb constellations:

(1)Subject: If the subject of an achievement is an indefinite plural noun phrase or a collective noun, the achievement recategorizes into an activity.

“The tourists have discovered a beautiful castle.” (achievement)

“Tourists discovered that beautiful castle for years.” (activity)

“The battalion had been crossing the border for twenty minutes.” (activity)

(2)Direct Object: If the direct object of an accomplishment or achievement is a bare plural noun phrase, they become activities.

“Tom wrote the essay in two hours.” (achievement)

“Tom wrote the essay for two hours.” (activity)

“ He discovered a treasure in the backyard.” (achievement)

“Tom has been discovering lice in his son’s hair for three days.” (activity)

If the direct object of an accomplishment or an achievement is a mass noun, it turns it into an activity.

“Tom ate his hamburger in three minutes.” (accomplishment)

“Tom ate popcorn for an hour.” (activity)

(3)Adverbials: If an activity is combined with an adverbial of extent, it turns into an accomplishment.

“Tom walked for an hour.” (activity)

“Tom walked two kilometers in half an hour.” (accomplishment)

If an activity combines with a locative noun phrase, it becomes an accomplishment.

“Tom walked in the woods for an hour.” (activity)

“Tom walked to the building in ten minutes.” (accomplishment)

(4)Tense: Habitual sentences always designate states. Almost any verb can become part of a habitual sentences if used in the simple present, sometimes with a frequency adverbial.

“He played chess for two hours.” (activity)

“He plays chess (every day).” (state)

Activity verb phrases such as rub, burn, scratch turn into states when used in the simple present form, designating a general characteristic of the subject:

“The wood is burning in the fireplace.” (activity)

“This turn like fire.” (state)

Limba Engleza Adelina Marin: http://cantemirgirl.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/cursuri-lb-a/#respond