A progress-based analysis of the progressive in English

초록

Linguistic Research 41(3): 517-545. Much of the literature on the English progressive has focused on the relationship between an event in progress and its potential future culmination, often overlooking its broader range of uses- event-in-progress, characterizing, and futurate readings. Event-based analyses have struggled to establish a unified core meaning that accounts for these interpretations. In response, this study advances a process-based approach, positing that the progressive aspect systematically emphasizes a process unfolding within a specific reference time. By foregrounding the ongoing process as the fundamental element, this account provides a cohesive explanation for the progressive across its diverse readings. Additionally, it addresses or resolves longstanding challenges in the semantics of the progressive-such as the Imperfective Paradox, Existential Generalization, (Un)Interruption, and Contextual Influence-in a more principled manner

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