tenses

From: Rick Strelan (R.Strelan@mailbox.uq.oz.au)
Date: Mon Jan 22 1996 - 20:02:41 EST


Would anyone care to answer a basic question: why do verb tenses change so
easily in a narrative? For example (among many) in the parable of Matt
13:24-30, the servants and the master have a conversation which is
introduced by verbs in the aorist (eipon and ephe, vv27-28) but then the
conversation continues introduced by verbns of speaking in the present
tense (legousin and phesi), Is the present tense here meant to imply an
on-going or repeated conversation,a stance being taken?

I'd appreciate any comments.

Rick Strelan
University of Queensland
r.strelan@mailbox.uq.edu.au



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Apr 20 2002 - 15:37:36 EDT