Universal 746: Tense ⇒ Past/Non-Past

Universal 746: Tense ⇒ Past/Non-Past

Original

The Universal of Tense-Aspect Organization:
If a language encodes a tense opposition in its verbal system, this opposition will hold between Past and non-Past.

Standardized

IF there is an encoding of a tense opposition in a verbal system, THEN this opposition will hold between Past and non-Past.

Keywords

tense, past, non-past

Domain

inflection, syntax

Type

no genuine implication; rather: provided that

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute?

Basis

sample of 410 languages in Stassen 1997

Source

Stassen 1997: 7.4

Counterexamples