Temporal Adverbials, Aspect, and Event Types in English

In-Adverbials with Simple Past Tense

In-adverbials combined with the simple past tense typically express the 'size' or duration of a [+durative] [+telic] eventuality. As a result:

• With states, they are usually anomalous because states are [–telic].
• With activities, they are usually anomalous because activities are [–telic].
• With accomplishments, which are [+durative] [+telic], they are perfectly natural and express the duration of the event.
• With achievements, which are [–durative], they typically express the time elapsed before the event (onset reading). However, this reading is often more natural with the preposition within.
• With semelfactives, they are usually anomalous because semelfactives are [–durative] [–telic].

In-Adverbials with Future Tense

With the future tense, in-adverbials express a delay before the eventuality starts (relative to the time of speech) and are thus compatible with all aspectual classes.

For-Adverbials and Event Duration

For-adverbials express the duration of a [–telic] eventuality.

• With states, which are [–telic], they express the duration of the state.
• With activities, which are [–telic], they express the duration of the event.
• With accomplishments, they are generally anomalous because accomplishments are [+telic]. In some cases, for-adverbials can occur with accomplishments, but then they express a repeated series of events.
• With achievements, they are generally anomalous because achievements are [+telic]. In some cases, for-adverbials can occur with achievements, but then they express the duration of the resulting state of affairs.
• With semelfactives, which are [–durative], they typically express the duration of the iterated event.

The Progressive Aspect and Event Progress

The progressive aspect emphasizes the ongoing progress of a [+durative] eventuality.

• With states, it is generally anomalous because states are [+static] and thus typically do not involve progress, although with some states, it can suggest temporariness.
• With activities, it is very natural, as activities are [–static].
• With accomplishments, it is also very natural, as accomplishments are [–static].
• With achievements, it is generally anomalous because achievements are [–durative] and thus lack an inherent process component. However, with some achievements, a coerced reading is possible, emphasizing the progress of the process leading up to the event.
• With semelfactives, it typically takes an iterative interpretation, emphasizing the progress of multiple instances of the event.