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Aspect can be defined as the relationship between ET and RT. Given that the perfective aspect in English is expressed by perfect and the imperfective aspect by present participle, there are just two options in English for the relationsship between ET and RT. When the perfective aspect is used RT intersects ET and the coda (end), and when the imperfective aspect is used RT intersects ET at the nucleus (the two aspects can be combines though, as in "Ann has been reading the book".) On this basis the distinction incomplete/completed (or, as some prefer: incomplete/complete) is made. ...
I agree with your comments regarding the use of WAYYIQTOL and QATAL in past contexts, with one exception. There are several examples of WAYYIQTOL with non-past reference (at least 998). And here I would like to point out the second cardinal error in the study of classical Hebrew, namely the almost total reliance on quantity rather than quality. Let me illustrate the point: The difference between long and short WAYYIQTOLs is being viewed as very important, because it is believed that WAYYIQTOL goes back to a short preterit YAQTUL. However, 73 per cent of the WAYYIQTOLs are long. ...
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