When-Clauses and Temporal Structure

Tense is one of the central issues of linguistics. In this book, Declerck offers a detailed discussion of the temporal structures that are expressed by the combination of tense forms with the conjunction "when".
Tense is one of the central issues of linguistics, and has been the focus of much attention in recent years. In this book, Declerck offers a detailed discussion of the temporal structures that are expressed by the combination of tense forms with the conjunction "when". He is able to develop and test his earlier model and in doing so reveals the close relation between the semantics of "when" and the English tense system. Included are: a detailed functional typology of English "when"-clauses; a model of the English tense system; an analysis of the possible tense combination - both normal and special - in head clauses and "when"-clauses; a discussion of the many different temporal interpretations of "when"-clauses; and a treatment of the special class of 'narrative "when"-clauses'. The specific focus is on how situations are located in time sentences involving both a head clause and a "when"-clause. His investigation of the "when"-clause gives an insight into the English tense system which will interest linguists and all those involved with teaching English.