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  • From: Michael Abernathy <mabernathy AT conwaycorp.net>
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [b-hebrew] tense and aspect
  • Date: Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:24:20 -0600

Tense and aspect
After reading some of the recent comments concerning the Hebrew tenses it occurred to me that even American English is not as clearly tense related as we generally think. For example, the simple present does not refer to time as much as it does to habitual action. Consider the following sentences:
I play hockey.
I shop at the mall.
I drive to work.
In the second person, the simple present either indicates habitual action or the imperative.
Using any of these phrases to mean that the action is current would be odd.
“I am playing hockey,” usually indicates present action but it could be used in narrative to indicate a past action, incipient action, or determination to play hockey.
“I will” or “I shall” can indicate a simple future tense or emphatic.
It seems reasonable to assume that Hebrew has both tense and aspect and that either one may be the dominant feature due to the context or the time it was used.
Instead of debating which view is correct, it may be more profitable to see what if any factors may be most consistent with aspect and what suggests tense.
Sincerely,
Michael Abernathy




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