Reviewed by Carolin Patzelt, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany

In this volume, Luís Filipe Cunha describes the semantic profile of stative predications, determines the properties that allow for a reliable identification of this aspectual class, and establishes criteria that distinguish states from other types of situations.

The book consists of six chapters. In Ch. 1 (9–62), aspect is compared with other closely related concepts, such as tense and Aktionsart. Drawing on previous studies by David Dowty (Word meaning and Montague grammar. Dordrecht: D. Reidel, 1979) and Zeno Vendler (Linguistics in philosophy. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1967), C contrasts the aspectual classes of states, activities, accomplishments, and achievements. In Ch. 2 (63–114), C explores the aspectual features of stative predications in more detail. His basic assumption is that stative predications do not represent a homogeneous class, and, therefore, it is necessary to define subcategories of states. C establishes tests that allow for a more precise characterization of the linguistic behavior of stative predicates. He argues for three fundamental distinctions: (i) states versus events, (ii) phase versus nonphase states, and (iii) individual-level versus stage-level states.

In Ch. 3 (115–224), C tests his hypotheses. He systematically examines different linguistic configurations that convey stative predications, such as lexical states with verbal, adjectival, or nominal predicates. A careful analysis of stative predications confirms the necessity of establishing a difference between individual-level and stage-level states as well as between phase and nonphase states. Thus, C works out rather subtle differences, such as the difference between ser ‘to be’ (an individual-level state) and estar ‘to be’ (a stage-level state).

Ch. 4 (225–98) deals with the interaction between states and other grammatical components, such as tense, adverbials, and sentential negation. Crucially, C illustrates how stativity affects various levels of the grammar of a language. Ch. 5 (299–342) examines the role of stative predications on the temporal structure of discourse. Discussing different stative subcategories, C draws interesting conclusions: for instance, in contrast to individual-level phase states, individual-level nonphase states usually cannot combine with the pretérito perfeito. C concludes this chapter with the analysis of authentic narrative texts.

Finally, Ch. 6 (299–376) returns to the basic concepts and problems of stativity. The development of the different subcategories is traced to two essential factors: (i) a temporal feature that leads up to the opposition between individual-level and stage-level states and (ii) an aspectual feature that is related to the difference between phase and nonphase states.

This volume provides a thorough semantic description of stative predications. Of particular value, C departs from a concept of aspectual homogeneity to systematically describe the different grammatical configurations that convey stativity. By bringing these configurations together into one unified scheme, C succeeds in accounting for the complex interaction between aspectual and temporal properties.