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Article published In: Spanish in Context
Vol. 22:3 (2025) ► pp.657–688

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Semantic persistence in Spanish temporal constructions

The case of llevar + time and tener + time constructions

ORCiD logo with link | Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro
 | Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro
Published online: 10 December 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/sic.24006.bro
Abstract
In Spanish, the verbs llevar and tener variably occur in durative temporal constructions, as in “llevo dos años cantando” and “tengo dos años cantando.” Despite occurring in functionally equivalent contexts, the distinct semantic origin of the verbs –llevar encoding movement, direction, and causativity, and tener being a prototypical possession verb– makes these constructions an ideal locus to examine how the persistence of core semantic properties influence alternation in grammaticalizing constructions. Adopting a variationist approach, we analyzed internal and external factors affecting the use of 221 occurrences of temporal constructions in Mexican Spanish. Results reveal that llevar + time is favored in contexts associated with change and affectedness, whereas tener + time is preferred in contexts associated with control and invariability. These findings suggest that despite semantic bleaching, the core semantic features of llevar and tener persist, shaping the distribution of their corresponding durative constructions. This can be taken as further evidence for the grammaticalization of durative temporal constructions in Spanish.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Llevar and tener in durative temporal constructions
  • 3.Semantic weight and persistence
    • 3.1The core semantics of llevar and tener
    • 3.2Semantic differences between llevar and tener
  • 4.Hypotheses and data
  • 5.Regression analysis
  • 6.Differences between the temporal constructions
    • 6.1Persistence of semantic features of llevar
    • 6.2Persistence of semantic features of tener
    • 6.3The effect of semantic weight
  • 7.A closer look at the llevar construction
    • 7.1Indicators of subjectivity
    • 7.2Potential increase in frequency
  • 8.Conclusions
  • Notes
  • References
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