This study presents a semantic framework for analysing all aspectual constructions in terms of the event state distinction, and describes the grammatical expression of aspectual meaning in terms of a theory of grammatical constructions. In this theory, grammatical constructions, like words, are conventionalized form-meaning pairs, which are best described not only with respect to their intrinsic semantic values, but also with respect to the functional oppositions in which they participate.
Acknowledgements, List of terms, List of abbreviations, INTRODUCTION,
1. ASPECTUAL MEANING,
2. THE GRAMMATICAL EMBODIMENT OF ASPECTUAL MEANING,
3. THE ENGLISH PERFECT SYSTEM,
4. THREE PERFECT FORMS,
5. INTERPRETATIONS OF THE PRESENT PERFECT, CONCLUSION, Notes, References, Index
Laura A. Michaelis
