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Absolute tense forms in Tswana


R.S. Pretorius

Abstract

The theme of this article is “tense” as category of the verb in Tswana and more specifically the different tenses that can be identified according to the theory of absolute and relative tense forms. Several publications by experts were consulted to shed new light on the previously held view on tense in Tswana. These views were compared in an attempt to put forth an applicable framework for the classification of the tenses in Tswana and to identify the absolute tenses of Tswana.


Keywords: tense; simple tenses; compound tenses; absolute tenses; relative tenses; aspect; auxiliary verbs; auxiliary verbal groups; Tswana


Opsomming

Die tema van hierdie artikel is tyd as kategorie van die werkwoord in Tswana, met spesifieke verwysing na die verskillende tye wat in Tswana geïdentifiseer kan word volgens die teorie van absolute en relatiewe tye. Verskeie publikasies deur kundiges is geraadpleeg en hulle werk is vergelyk. Dit is gedoen om nuwe lig te werp op die tradisionele beskouing van tyd in Tswana en om sodoende 'n toepaslike raamwerk daar te stel vir die klassifikasie van die tye in Tswana. Daarna is die verskillende absolute tye van Tswana geïdentifiseer.


Sleutelwoorde:
tyd; enkelvoudige tye; saamgestelde tye; absolute tye; relatiewe tye; aspek; hulpwerkwoorde; hulpwerkwoordgroepe; Tswana


(J Language Teaching: 2003 37(1): 13-25)

Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2958-9320
print ISSN: 0259-9570