[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Interaction: middle and imperfect



OK, I decided to check out the present of ERCOMAI, which also appears only
in the middle. Is this right - with imperfective aspect, ERCOMAI occurs only
in the middle, but with perfective aspect it never occurs in the middle? Are
there other verbs that act this way? What does it all mean?

Jonathan

>I've never thought of interactions between voice and mood, 
>but I just ran into an interesting fact: in the imperfect, 
>ERCOMAI always occurs in the middle (11 times); in the aorist, 
>it never occurs in the middle (168 times, all active). Being 
>a naturally speculative type, I wonder if this could have to 
>do with the force of the middle and the aspect of the imperfect 
>both reinforcing a more vivid depiction of the actual event of coming?
>
>I hadn't expected this kind of interaction between tense and mood. Does
this kind of pattern occur with other verbs, too? Has anybody written
anything useful about it?
>
>Comments?
>
>Jonathan (who still loves his GRAMCORD!)
>

***************************************************************************
Jonathan Robie   jwrobie@mindspring.com  http://www.mindspring.com/~jwrobie
POET Software, 3207 Gibson Road, Durham, N.C., 27703    http://www.poet.com
***************************************************************************


Follow-Ups: