q french aspect question arises olsen 1994 diss tenseaspect standardly assumed e g aimait past imperfect combined wonder synchronic status spoken french seems simple past nonpast contrast three constructions simple stem aux participle infinitives enclitic thus proportionately aime aimait aime avait aime aimer aimer ait analysis correct french would better assume aimait simple past tense let aspect come free default interpretation musing