Background

 An action or event has (at least) the following aspectual structure:
1. A Readiness Condition
2. Start
3. A Process
4. A possible interruption and return
5. A possible interation
6. A possible purpose to be achieved
7. A conclusion
8. A final state.

 Parts 3, 4 and 5 define the internal structure of the action or event, while the overall structure minus the internal structure defines the external structure.

Problem 1: What is the logic of aspect? Give all the aspectual inferences that arise from this structuring of events. For example, if you are in a readiness condition, you have not yet started.

***Problem 2 has been removed from the homework***
(you can still think about it if you have time)
Problem 2. Take the frame semantics that you did last week for a Journey and give its aspectual structure. For example, say which part of the Journey is the Purpose to be achieved, and so on.
 

***Problem 3 has been removed from the homework***
Problem 3. In class we discussed two frames that interact with aspect:
(a) The Habitual Action Frame, as in sentences like I used to drink coffee and I'm swimming these days.
(b) The Sequential Collective Action Frame, as in The rescue workers began to arrive and The guests have finished dinner.
Describe each of these frames. Include the aspectual structure of these frames.

Problem 4.
a. What is the inherent aspect of the following verbs and verb phrases: pull, sneeze, tap, embark, pull off (as in He pulled the label off).
b. Give the frame analysis of pull off (in the above sense). What are the participant roles of pull off? Give the aspectual analysis of the inherent aspect of pull off, specifying which part of the apsectual structure is assigned to pull and which to off.
c. Give the aspectual analysis of Maxine is pulling off the label. How does the aspect in this sentence differ from the inherent aspect of pull off?

Problem 5. What is the frame semantics and the aspectual structure of the verb prepare, as in He is preparing to go on a trip. What is the overall aspectual structure of that sentence.

Problem 6.
a. Give an example of a verb with an inherent perfective aspect in a sentence where the apsect has been changed to imperfective.
b. Give an example of a verb with an inherent inceptive (starting) aspect in a sence where the aspect has been changed to perfective.

Problem 7. Give three examples of aspectually ambiguous sentences. In each case, tell what the ambiguity is, give contexts to disambuate them, and explain why the contexts work as they do.

Problem 8. What aspectual structure goes with the adverbs (a) for an hour and (b) in an hour?
This assignment is due on Wednesday, April 14.