Routines and changes of state in discourse
Use duration and narrative context to interpret the aspectual choice.
Он долго одевался profiles the process or delay. Он быстро оделся profiles attainment of the dressed state. Она проснулась от шума advances the narrative with one transition.
- Duration often foregrounds imperfective process.
- A resultant state often favours perfective.
- Habitual adverbs commonly support imperfective.
Mini-check
Which sentence foregrounds attainment of a dressed state?
Advanced choice
Aspect can shift with speaker viewpoint even when both forms describe related real-world events.