Universal 899: indirect construction ⇔ progressive aspect & partial nature of the object;
direct construction ⇔ non-progressive aspect & totally involved object

Universal 899: indirect construction ⇔ progressive aspect & partial nature of the object;
direct construction ⇔ non-progressive aspect & totally involved object

Original

Whenever indirect constructions are in opposition with direct constructions, the former will be found with progressive aspect and partially involved objects and the latter with non-progressive aspect and totally involved objects.

Standardized

Whenever indirect constructions are in opposition with direct constructions, the former will be found with progressive aspect and partially involved objects and the latter with non-progressive aspect and totally involved objects.

Keywords

indirect construction, aspect, progressive, object

Domain

inflection, syntax

Type

no genuine implication; rather: provided that

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute

Basis

languages surveyed in Lazard 1998 (see language index in Lazard 1998: 275-8)

Source

Lazard 1998: 224-25

Counterexamples