Difference between revisions of "Grammatical (Viewpoint) Aspect"
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== [[Habitual Aspect (definition)|Habitual]]== | == [[Habitual Aspect (definition)|Habitual]]== | ||
| − | The habitual aspect in SG may use the second indefinite form of the verb. However, this form can be ambiguous between a habitual past reading and a conditional future reading. | + | (1) The habitual aspect in SG may use the second indefinite form of the verb. However, this form can be ambiguous between a habitual past reading and a conditional future reading. |
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| − | Also, the analytic future form of the verb may give a habitual reading. | + | (2) Also, the analytic future form of the verb may give a habitual reading. |
| − | The past (as in English) can have a habitual reading as well. 'I wrote letters.' | + | (3) The past (as in English) can have a habitual reading as well. 'I wrote letters.' |
| + | |||
| + | (4) The present habitual can be marked with ''a'''. | ||
== [[Stative Aspect (definition)|Stative]] == | == [[Stative Aspect (definition)|Stative]] == | ||
Revision as of 09:12, 9 October 2012
For a definition of the term grammatical aspect see Grammatical Aspect (definition); For a definition of the term aspect see Aspect (definition)
Scottish Gaelic makes several semantic distinctions of viewpoint aspect, including Perfective (Aorist), Imperfective, Habitual, Stative, Perfect, After-Perfect, Prospective, and Proximate Prospective. These semantic distinctions are variously instantiated in the morphosyntax. Specifically, all of the various aspects in SG are marked with particles expect for the perfective aspect.
| NAME | SG PARTICLES | ENGLISH EXAMPLE |
| Perfect | air 'on' | I have eaten |
| After-Perfect | as deidh 'after' | I have just eaten |
| Prospective | a' dol do 'going to | I am about to eat |
| Restricted Prospective | gu 'to/until' | I am about to eat |
| Imperfective | a' 'at' | I am eating |
| perfective | [analytic form] | I ate |
Contents
Perfective (Aorist)
In SG, the analytic past can be said to convey perfective aspect. This same verb form may also encode the habitual.
| Sgriobh | mi | na | litrichean |
| write.past | 1s | the | letters |
| 'I wrote the letters' | |||
Imperfective also known as the Progressive
With a full NP object:
- Be + subject + ag + VN +object (if definite, then genitive)
- Tha mi ag deànamh an obair
| Bha/tha/bithidh | mi | a' | sgriobhadh | na | litrichean | |
| be.past/be.pres/be.fut | 1s | A' | write.vn | the | letters | |
| 'I was/am/will be writing the letters.' | ||||||
with a pronominal object
- Be + subject +gam/gad/ga/etc. + vn
- tha e 'gam choinneachadh
- He's meeting me.
Habitual
(1) The habitual aspect in SG may use the second indefinite form of the verb. However, this form can be ambiguous between a habitual past reading and a conditional future reading.
| bhiodh | e | ann | an-comhnaidh | |||
| be.indef2 | he | in it | always | |||
| 'He would always be there.' | ||||||
(2) Also, the analytic future form of the verb may give a habitual reading.
(3) The past (as in English) can have a habitual reading as well. 'I wrote letters.'
(4) The present habitual can be marked with a'.
Stative
Perfect
There are two distinct perfect aspects in SG, (1) unrestricted perfect and (2) restricted perfect. In the former, the particle air is placed after the subject, whereas in the latter case the complex particle as deidh occupies the position. The unrestricted perfect merely indicates that the event has taken place prior to the reference, but the restricted version adds another stipulation on the relationship between event and reference: the event must precede the reference by only a very short time. The rough translation for the restricted aspect into English yields 'I had just/recently gone to the store'.
Be + subject + air + (object) + (prt) + verbal noun
- Bha mi air an obair a dheànamh
With an object pronoun: Be + subject + air +possessive pronoun + verbal noun
- Bha mi air a dheanamh "I had done it"
Unrestricted Perfect
takes Inverted Nominal
| Bha/tha/bithidh | mi | air | litir | a | sgriobhadh |
| be.past/be.pres/be.fut | 1sg | AIR | letter | Agreement | write.vn |
| 'I had/have/will have written a letter.' | |||||
Restricted Perfect (After Perfect)
takes Inverted Nominal
| Bha/tha/bithidh | mi | as deidh | litir | a | sgriobhadh |
| be.past/be.pres/be.fut | 1sg | AS DEIDH | letter | Agreement | write.vn |
| 'I had/have/will have (just/recently) written a letter.' | |||||
Prospective
uses a' dol a + infinitive
- Bha/tha/bithidh Calum a’ dol a phòsadh
- Màiri. be.PAST/be.PRES/be.FUT Calum PROG go.VN PRT marry.VN Màiri
- ‘Calum was/is/will be going to marry Màiri.’
Proximate perspective
takes Inverted Nominal
- Tha mi gu litir a sgrìobhadh.
- Is 1S GU letter TRAN write.VN
- ‘I am about to write a letter.’
See Also
External Links
References
- MacDonald, J.A. (1976) Gàidhlig Bheo, vol 3 National Extension College
