Durativity

In the frame

NP is still V-ing’ (German ‘NP V-t noch’)

V must be durative.

Terminative verbs can be distinguished from durative verbs by a test frame such as S5.

S5. Test frame for terminative vs. durative aktionsart
Peter Ved (the X) U (with)in for ] three hours/seconds.

S5 is to be translated into the target language. Then the verb whose aktionsart is to be tested is inserted in place of V, and X is replaced with an appropriate noun if V is transitive. If the first version is good and the second version bad, the verb is terminative (e.g. Engl. burn); if the result is the reverse, the verb is durative (e.g. walk). See Lehmann 1993 for more such test frames and for the problems associated with their use. As an aside, it is interesting to observe that this particular method figured already in structural linguistics. As a matter of fact, it presupposes some prior hypothesis from which it follows that expressions of a certain category will fit in the test frame, while others will be incompatible. This is actually possible only in the deductive method.

Change of state

X ___ quickly

A suitabe form of a verb which is tested for change of state is inserted in the slot. If the result is grammatical, it designates a change of state; otherwise not.

E.g. x is dying quickly / * x is hungering/longing/yearning quickly