What is absolute-relative tense?

Definition
	Absolute-relative tense is a tense
	that refers to a time in relation to a temporal reference point that, in turn, is referred to in relation to the moment of utterance in which the time and the reference point are not identical, and the reference point and the moment of utterance are not identical.

Kinds
	What is future perfect tense? What is future-in-future tense? What is future-in-past tense? What is future-perfect-in-past tense? What is past perfect tense?

Generic
	Absolute-relative tense is a kind of
	What is tense?

Source
	Comrie 1985b 64–65

Context for this page:

Concept module: absolute-relative tense
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): A
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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