Delahunty and Garvey
tence is a past perfect (e.g., I had met him several times by 2004), the relevant
later time is prior to the time of utterance and may be specified by an adver-
bial; 2004 has this function in the current example. If the sentence is a future
perfect (e.g., I will have lived here for 30 years by 2010), the relevant time is
later than the present and may be specified by an adverbial such as by 2010.
The habitual aspect indicates that a situation continued for such an ex-
tended period of time in the past that it can be taken as a characteristic of
the entire period. We explore the complexities involved in interpreting these
forms in more detail below.
Progressive aspect
We begin by illustrating three features of the interpretation of the progres-
sive aspect. The form indicates that the event is viewed as involving a period,
rather than merely a point of time:
(64) The jet changed direction.
(65) The jet is changing direction.The first of these two sentences is neutral with respect to whether the change of
direction is sudden or gradual. The second sentence characterizes the change
of direction as taking time. How much time is not at issue.
The situation represented in the progressive aspect is viewed as temporary
rather than permanent, as illustrated in (66) and (67).
(66) I live with my parents.
(67) I am living with my parents.The progressive sentence is readily compatible with a continuation such as,
while my own house is being rebuilt. The simple present is not quite so natural
with that continuation.
The progressive suggests that the situation it represents is not necessarily
complete, as (68) and (69) show.
(68) The man died.
(69) The man was dying.The latter sentence is compatible with a continuation that indicates that the
dying process was never completed: but we managed to save his life. The former
is not.
The progressive frequently represents a situation during which another