The Progressive Form and the Non-progressive Form in English: the Theory of Susceptibility to Change'

In this article the writer examines the difference between the progressive form and the simple (non-progressive) form in English by applying the theory of 'susceptibility to change'. It is argued that the use of the progressive form implies a situation that is in some way susceptible to change, while the use of the non-progressive form implies that there is no idea of susceptibility to change. The writer analyses 23 different cases covering a wide range of situations and tenses in order to verify how this theory works in practice. Aspectual features, notably imperfectivity/perfectivity, but also features relating to Aktionsart, i.e. punctuality/durativity, stativity/non-stativity, telicity/atelicity, are also considered in the light of the works of leading theorists in tense and aspect, such as Hirtle, Comrie, Bertinetto and, in particular, Declerck.