Contextual interaction of the Preterit tense and multiplicity markers in the French language

This article deals with investigating the interaction of the Preterit tense and multiplicity markers in the French language. The qualitative-temporal meaning defines the temporal location of the process in the past. The quantitative temporal-aspectual meaning implies a strict representation of the time interval of the process, a limited duration favorable for the expression of iterative actions. When representing general or single intervals of diachronic situation series, one should take into account the hierarchy of means, which is the following: 1) terminative / non-terminative semantics of the verb; 2) quantitative temporal-aspectual meaning of the terminative / non-terminative duration of the tense form; 3) non-verb means. Passё Simple denotes the definite and indefinite multiplicity through frequency, and always has its paradigmatic meaning of action perfectivity: end of situations series. The meaning of integrity resists combinations with habitual adverbs that denote action constancy for the whole past time. The meanings of unlimited multiplicity are not typical, which explains their rarity in Passe Simple. The quantitative temporal-aspectual meaning of limited duration implies the existence of a common interval of action series, limiting the number of situations temporally. In some cases, the limited number of diachronic actions is expressed explicitly. As a key member of the opposition of point tenses / linear tenses, Passe Simple is semantically consistent with representing a single action. Passe Simple is ideal for the expression of a definite multiplicity, because the meaning of the tense already assumes limited duration of the action series, and it is necessary only to specify the limited number of actions. Limited iterative actions involve a limited number of action repetitions, and unlimited no limitations. In accordance with relevant contextual conditions Preterit is able to express limited or unlimited iterative actions, with the total tendency to express limited iterative actions. In the hierarchy of temporal context means, the quantitative temporal-aspectual meaning of limited duration of the Preterit tense dominates multiplicity markers, whereas the latter dominate the meaning of unlimited verbs.

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