Absolute vs. relative tense (reference point)
The time of the speech event normally functions as the reference point relative to which other events are located in time. This type of tense marking is called ABSOLUTE TENSE. In a RELATIVE TENSE system, a different reference point is used– tense marking is used to locate the time of one situation relative to another situation, rather than in relation to the speech event. This pattern is most common in subordinate clauses, especially with non-finite verb forms, but is also found in main clauses in some languages (e.g. classical Arabic).
We can illustrate this pattern using participial clauses in English, which allow (and often prefer) a relative tense interpretation. The most natural interpretation of the participle flying in the following examples is that the flying event takes place at (approximately) the same time as the giving event. Relative to the time of the speech event, we interpret the participle as referring to the past in (7a), but to the future in (7b).
(7) a Last week Qantas gave free tickets to all passengers flying to Darwin.
b Next week Qantas will give free tickets to all passengers flying to Darwin.
Comrie (1985) states that in Imbabura Quechua, main clause verbs have absolute tense reference while most subordinate verbs get relative tense interpretation.1 In the following examples, the subordinate verb ‘live’ is marked for past, present, or future tense according to whether it refers to a situation which existed before, during, or after the situation named by the main verb. But, since the main verb is marked for past tense, the actual time referred to by the subordinate verb may have been before the time of the speech event even when it is marked for ‘future’ tense, as in(8c):
1. A distinct set of tense markers is also used to distinguish between relative and absolute tense reference.
