Chapter One Introduction 1
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Research Orientation 2
1.2 Objectives of the Study 3
1.3 Organization of the Book 4
Chapter Two Theories of Aspect 6
2.0 Introduction 6
2.1 Smith's Two-Component Theory 6
2.2 Verkuyl's Theory of Aspect 9
2.3 De Swart's Framework 11
2.4 Prototype Theory 13
2.5 Summary 16
Chapter Three Aspectual Marking in English and Chinese 17
3.0 Introduction 17
3.1 Tense 17
3.2 Aspect 19
3.2.1 Definition of Aspect 19
3.2.2 Categories of Aspect 20
3.2.3 Semantic Meaning Expressed by the Interaction between Tense and Grammatical Aspect 26
3.2.4 Syntactic Elements Contributing to the Sentential Aspect 30
3.3 Aspect in English 33
3.4 Aspect in Chinese 36
3.4.1 Grammatical Aspect 37
3.4.2 Interaction between Grammatical Aspect and Lexical Aspect 44
3.4.3 Special Features of Chinese Aspectual System 50
3.5 Differences and Similarities between the Aspectual Marking in English and Chinese 52
3.6 Summary 54
Chapter Four Previous Studies on the Comprehension of Aspect 55
4.0 Introduction 55
4.1 Studies on the Comprehension of the Semantic Meaning of Grammatical Aspect 56
4.2 Studies on the Comprehension of Lexical Aspect 61
4.3 Studies on the Comprehension of Grammatical Aspect and Lexical Aspect 63
4.4 Issues Awaiting Further Exploration in the Field of Aspect 65
4.5 Summary 67
Chapter Five Methodology 68
5.0 Introduction 68
5.1 Participants 68
5.2 Test Instrument 69
5.2.1 Rationale for the Design of the Test Instrument 69
5.2.2 Sentence Interpretation Test 70
5.2.3 Sentence Preference Test 72
5.3 Data Collection 75
5.4 Summary 75
Chapter Six Comprehension of the Tense and Aspect of Stative Verbs 77
6.0 Introduction 77
6.1 Research Questions and Hypotheses 77
6.2 Data Treatment 78
6.3 Results 79
6.3.1 Sentence Interpretation Test 79
6.3.2 Sentence Preference Test 82
6.4 Discussion 94
6.5 Summary 99
Chapter Seven Comprehension of the Tense and Aspect of Telic Verbs 100
7.0 Introduction 100
7.1 Research Questions and Hypotheses 100
7.2 Data Treatment 101
7.3 Results 102
7.3.1 Accomplishments 102
7.3.2 Achievements 108
7.4 Discussion 115
7.5 Summary 118
Chapter Eight Comprehension of the Semantic Feature of Telicity/Atelicity 119
8.0 Introduction 119
8.1 Research Questions and Hypotheses 119
8.2 Data Treatment 120
8.3 Results 120
8.4 Discussion 126
8.5 Summary 130
Chapter Nine Conclusion 131
9.0 Introduction 131
9.1 Major Findings 131
9.1.1 Results Concerning Stative Verbs 132
9.1.2 Results Concerning Telic Verbs 132
9.1.3 Results Concerning Verb＋direct object/preposition(no)particle 133
9.2 Implications of the Study 133
9.2.1 Theoretical Implications 134
9.2.2 Methodological Implications 135
9.2.3 Pedagogical Implications 136
9.3 Limitations of the Present Study 137
9.4 Suggestions for Further Research 138
References 140
Appendix A Sentence Interpretation Test 149
Appendix B Sentence Preference Test 153