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Universal 1756:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 1756:

Original
For all languages, if tense is marked on non-finite forms, then it is also marked on finite forms.
Standardized
IF tense is marked on non-finite forms, THEN tense is also marked on finite forms.
Keywords
verb, finite, non-finite, tense
Domain
inflection
Type
implication
Status
achronic
Quality
statistical
Basis
languages mentioned in Vincent 1998, with special reference to Old Neapolitan
Source
Vincent 1998: 151
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    The four logical possibilities are:(i) tense is marked on both finite and non-finite forms, e.g. Latin.(ii) tense is only marked on finite forms, e.g. Italian, Danish.(iii) tense is not marked on any verbal form, finite or otherwise, e.g. Chinese.(iv) tense is marked on the non-finite forms but not on the finite ones – not attested.

    1. May 2020

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