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Using literary texts to reveal problematic rules of usage
Author(s) -
Frantzen Diana
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/flan.12057
Subject(s) - imperfect , scrutiny , linguistics , meaning (existential) , computer science , philosophy , epistemology , theology
This article identifies problematic rules of usage for aspect (preterite/imperfect) in Spanish that are commonly taught in textbooks, citing as evidence examples from Spanish literature. The rules under scrutiny are: (1) the imperfect is used to express emotions in the past, (2) the imperfect is used for descriptions in the past, (3) the preterite and imperfect are associated with certain expressions, and (4) certain verbs “change meaning” in the preterite. Literary works not only provide an authoritative voice to expose these misleading rules but also furnish rich contexts within which to better understand aspect in general.