Time-mode morpheme . Time and mode form an inseparable pair that is expressed by a single morpheme . This, also called characteristic , determines the characteristic way of meaning of each verb form by establishing the speaker’s relationship with the action process. It is placed after the thematic vowel , and in cases where the verb form lacks it, after the lexeme . Although the temporal and modal content are merged, they refer to different categories.
Summary
[ hide ]
- 1 The weather
- 1 Temporary opposition
- 2 The mode
- 3 Absence of the morpheme
- 4 Sources
Time
The time refers to the moment in which the process indicated by the verb (the verbal action) takes place. It has its point of reference in the act of speech: present. From the relationship established with this moment, what is expressed by the verb will be past or future, if the action is carried out before or after, respectively.
The Spanish language has several ways of expressing time, which are grouped according to the way or the different ways of expressing what is meant by the verb. Many times are expressed with a single word: I write, wrote, will write; but others have to be built with two or more: I have written, I would have written, I should have written. In the first case the times are called simple or synthetic; in the second, compound or periphrastic.
Temporary opposition
The fundamental temporal opposition exists between the past, the present and the future. Example:
In addition to the fundamental temporal opposition, there are other temporal relationships: anteriority, simultaneity or coexistence and posteriority. These temporary relationships can be established with both personal and non-personal verb forms. Examples:
“Juan swells his lungs with salty air, with a fresh breeze that fills his eyes with tears …”
The way of Santiago . Alejo Carpentier
Simultaneity between inflates and fills .
“… he remembered that the chef Henry Christophe had left the business, a short time before …”
The kingdom of this world . Alejo Carpentier
Later recalled in relation to had left .
“I have no doubt that Liborio has killed him”
The openwork comb . Cirilo Villaverde
Previously he has killed in relation to remains .
The mode
The verb is the carrier of the modality: the attention and the mental attitude of the speaker, when facing the process that he observes objectively, to which he refers expressing his own subjectivity. This is indicated morphologically by the mode mark, condensed into the same morpheme with the timestamp. The mode is, then, the exponent of the different ways in which the meaning of the verb can be expressed: as a certain or potential fact ( indicative mood ); as supposed, desired or necessary ( subjunctive mood ), or as order, command, request or exhortation ( imperative mood ). Examples:
- You walk a lot on weekends (present indicative)
- Maybe I will walk a lot that week (present subjunctive)
- Walk a lot! (present imperative)
Absence of the morpheme
Although all conjugated verbs indicate a specific tense and mood, the tense-mood morpheme is not always present.
