is conceived of by the language user as reflecting a given (often complex) state of affairs. This is regardless of whether this state of affairs has come about as the result of some antecedent action or whether any continued duration is implied. The ways in which verbal aspect may be illustrated are several, but the significant concept is that the aspects are arranged in relation to each other. Several analogies may be helpful at this point (see Chapter 21 sections 1.2, 2.1, and 3.2). 1.1.1. Verbal
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