Stative Verbs and Aspect
Williams, Wes (Wes.Williams@echostar.com)
Wed, 16 Jul 1997 13:31:17 -0600
> Rolf said:
>
> << "To be" is a state, which by definition continues without an input
> of
> energy. The existence of the Word in the beginning and its continuance
> is
> NOT connected with the aspect of the verb but with its nature as a
> stative. >>
>
> I know that EIMI is stative, but I understand from Porter's definition
> of aspect that continuation (from the viewpoint of the speaker)*is*
> inherent in imperfective aspect. (I do not recall page number but it
> is early in his Idioms book when he justifies his category of
> "imperfective"). I inferred when I read it last year that this applied
> even if that verb is EIMI. I understand the above as saying that EIMI
> ( and by extension some forms of other stative verbs like GINOMAI,
> hUPARCW) cannot have imperfective aspect since it is a stative verb.
> If so, where can I look to find more information on this distinction?
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Sincerely,
> Wes Williams
>
>