The study uses a broad empirical database to clarify the variable time reference and modal reading ("unreal"/"potential") of non-past related (i.e. temporally refunctioned) forms such as 'ware gekommen' [would have come] (e.g. 'Morgen ware sie gekommen' [She would have come tomorrow]) and differences in meaning compared with forms such as 'kame/wurde kommen' [would come]. The study concludes with a survey of the temporal refunctioning of the past subjunctive back into the 16th century."
Author Biography
Oddleif Leirbukt, Universitat Bergen, Norwegen."
