Eun-Ji Lee. 2001. Absolute/Relative Tense and Identification of Tense in Korean Predicative Clause. Studies in Modern Grammar 24, 91-109. In this paper, we examine the tense property of Korean predicative clauses. We show that subordinate clauses, regardless of whether they are nonfinite or finite, derive relative tense interpretation, whereas main clauses, which are all finite, derive absolute tense interpretation. For the case of nonfinite (subordinate) clauses, these clauses are similar to the nonfinite clauses in English. In this case, given no overt tense markers, tense is unspecified and anaphoric, yielding relative tense interpretation. In the case of finite subordinate clauses, where one of (nu)n and e/ass is present, these markers however are not tense, that is, they do not function as tense, but something else (probably aspect). Hence, tense in this case is unspecified and anaphoric, deriving relative tense interpretation. Finally, in the case of main clauses, which are always finite, (nu)n and e/ass are tense markers and function as tense. So, tense is specified, deriving absolute tense interpretation.

• 이은지 | Eun Ji Lee