Re: "Anticipatory" Tense

On Sat, Mar 02, 2002 at 03:35:54AM -0800, M.E.S. wrote:
> --- David Peterson <DigitalScream@...> wrote:
> > In a message dated 03/1/02 10:45:47 PM, Ian Maxwell
> > writes:
> > << My question is, does a word already exist for
> > this, or can I just use my own invented word? >>
> >
> > And exponent posited:
> > <<Inchoative?>>
> >
> >     It was my understanding that "inchoative" was
> > "becoming", and that's how
....
> >  Anticipatory
> > sounds good, though, even if there is another,
> > "formal" term.
>
I'd say this was an aspect rather than a tense, just to split hairs.

But in the same vein, what about an "almost" aspect, e.g. "I almost fell
over, and you almost laughed out loud". Or "I nearly finished reading that
book" (but I never managed the last few pages). No doubt the Greeks had a
word for it :-)

Keith Mylchreest

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