Wesan 'to be' + past participle in old dutch: from past to present

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Author(s) : De Belder marijke
Facultés Universitaires Saint-Louis
Abstract This paper provides an analysis of the temporal and aspectual evolution of the Old Dutch construction wesan 'to be' + past participle. This construction is traditionally understood as a passive present perfect. I argue that this view is incorrect. Wesan 'to be' + past participle originated as a passive past and only became a passive present perfect in the 11th century.
Keywords passive, present perfect, Old Dutch, tense & aspect

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