The progressive futurate is not aspectual
Both the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CGEL) by Pullum and Oxford Modern English Grammar (OMEG) by Aarts clearly say that the progressive futurate (i.e., the present progressive indicating a future event as in I'm leaving next week) does not have an aspectual meaning to it.
OMEG on page 270 says:
It is important to be aware of the fact that [the progressive futurate] is not aspectual, that is, the situation is not regarded as unfolding over time.
What exactly does this mean?
Top answer
I'm leaving next week. The basic meaning of the progressive aspect is to present the situation as being in progress, as in The kids are watching TV where the "watching" is in progress and, in this case, there is no determinate endpoint. But there are certain cases where clauses with progressive form do not have the usual "in progress" meaning.
- I'm leaving next week.
- The basic meaning of the progressive aspect is to present the situation as being in progress, as in The kids are watching TV where the "watching" is in progress and, in this case, there is no determinate endpoint.
- But there are certain cases where clauses with progressive form do not have the usual "in progress" meaning.
- Since English has no future tense, other ways have to be found to express the future.
- One of these ways is called the " progressive futurate ", which entails the use of the progressive form where the meaning is not aspectual.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
I'm leaving next week.
The basic meaning of the progressive aspect is to present the situation as being in progress, as in The kids are watching TV where the "watching" is in progress and, in this case, there is no determinate endpoint.
But there are certain cases where clauses with progressive form do not have the usual "in progress" meaning.
Since Engli
0
Related Questions