[B-Greek] Re: Understanding Greek Verb Tense/Aspect

Kimmo Huovila kimmo.huovila at helsinki.fi
Fri Apr 9 07:05:01 EDT 2004


On Thursday 08 April 2004 23:24, R Yochanan Bitan Buth wrote:
> The present is tricky because in historical narratives it can be used
> for perfective events (the so-called historical present), even though in
> a real present situation it is imperfective/continuative.

Do you mean that historical present is (at least sometimes) perfective or that 
it is imperfective but can be used in cases where also a perfective can be 
used? I think Mourelatos said that the same limitations for adverbials of 
count that hold for other presents (imperfectives) hold also for historical 
presents. Would that argue for the historical present to be imperfective?

Kimmo Huovila



More information about the B-Greek mailing list