A corpus linguistics perspective on the predictive validity of the English progressive

Popkova E.M.

Previous issue (2012. no. 1)

Sociosphera

Publisher: Ltd. Research and Publishing Center "Sociosphere"

ISSN: 2078-7081

Published since 2010

Published quarterly

RU In Russian

Sociosphera
2010. no. 4, 74–81
ISSN: 2078-7081

A corpus linguistics perspective on the predictive validity of the English progressive

Popkova E.M.
State University – the Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia

The article discusses the most recent trends in the development of the English progressive. A corpus-based approach to linguistic research is seen as an effective means of determining reliability of the data retrieved and helps track the major diachronic dynamic in the increasing frequency of the progressive aspect that has taken place since the beginning of the 20th century. The article specifically deals with the extension of the progressive to new constructions, such as modal, present perfect and past perfect passive progressive, and also accounts for the use of progressive forms in the contextual environment not generally characteristic of them.

Keywords: corpus linguistics, progressive forms, English verb, syntactical changes, perfect progressive passive, modalised passive progressive, stative verbs, contextual environment, grammatical transformations.

Column: Philology

For Reference

Popkova E.M. A corpus linguistics perspective on the predictive validity of the English progressive. Sociosfera = Sociosphera, 2010. no. 4, pp. 74–81. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

Popkov E. M. Discretionary rule in the morphology of contemporary English: Modern Humanities Research. – 2008. – № 6. – C. 113–117.
Biber D., Johansson S., Leech G., Conrad S. & Finegan E. (1999). The Longman grammar of spoken and written English. – London: Longman.
Hewings M. Advanced Grammar in Use. Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Huddleston R., & Pullum, G. K. (2002). The Cambridge grammar of the English language. – Cambridge: CUP.
Jespersen O. A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles: Volume 4. Syntax (third volume). – Copenhagen: Munksgaard, 1954.
Jørgensen Erik. The Progressive Tenses and the Socalled ‘Nonconclusive’ Verbs. English Studies 2 (1991). – P. 173–182.
Lindquist H. and Mair C. Corpus Approaches to Grammaticalization in English. – Amsterdam, 2004.
Ljung M. Reflections on the English Progressive. Gothenburg Studies in English 46. – Gothenburg: Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis, 1980.
Mair C. and Leech, Geoffrey (2006) Current change in English syntax. In: Aarts, Bas and MacMahon, A., (eds.) The Handbook of English Linguistics. Blackwell. – Oxford. – Р. 318–342.
Palmer F.R. The English Verb. 2nd edition. Longmans, 1988.
Quirk R., Greenbaum S., Leech G. and Svartvik J. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. – London: Longman, 1985. 197–213
Smith N. A quirky progressive? A corpusbased exploration of the will + be + ing construction in recent and present day British English / D. Archer, P. Rayson, A. Wilson & T. McEnery (Eds). Proceedings of the Corpus Linguistics 2003 Conference. Lancaster University: UCREL Technical Papers Vol. 16. – Р. 714–723.
Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. – Oxford University Press, 2005.