Universal 896: imperfective aspect ⇔ indefinite, partitive, non-referential object

Universal 896: imperfective aspect ⇔ indefinite, partitive, non-referential object

Original

There is an affinity between aspect and object individuation, insofar as the imperfective (progressive, frequentative, etc.) aspect often goes hand in hand with an indefinite, partitive or non-referential object.

Standardized

There is an affinity between aspect and object individuation, insofar as the imperfective (progressive, frequentative, etc.) aspect often goes hand in hand with an indefinite, partitive or non-referential object.

Keywords

aspect, imperfect, object, indefinite, partitive, non-referential, incorporation

Domain

inflection, syntax

Type

mutual implication

Status

achronic

Quality

almost absolute

Basis

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

Source

Lazard 1998: 210

Counterexamples