Лекции по теоретической грамматике английского языка для студентов

4. Oppositional reduction of verbal categories 
In various contextual conditions, one member of an opposition can be used 
in the position of the other, counter-member. This phenomenon is usually referred 
to as “oppositional reduction” (some authors use the term “oppositional 
substitution”). Two major types of oppositional reduction are differentiated: 
neutralization and transposition.
Neutralization
as a linguistic concept by which we mean suspension of 
otherwise functioning oppositions. The position of neutralization is, as a rule, filled 
in by the weak member of the opposition due to its more general semantics. 
Neutralization is stylistically indifferent, the use of the unmarked member of the 
opposition in the position of the marked member does not transgress the expressive 
conventions of ordinary speech. 
e.g. 
The exhibition opens next week.
The example presents a case of neutralization of the opposition “present vs. 
future”. The present form “opens”, which is the weak member of the opposition, is 
used in the position of the strong member and denotes a future action. 

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Neutralization is possible due to the presence of the adverbial modifier of time 
(“next week”), which plays the role of the neutralizer in this case.
The other type of oppositional reduction called 
transposition
takes place 
when one of the members of the opposition is placed in contextual conditions 
uncommon for it, that is, the use of the form is stylistically marked. Transposition 
is based on the contrast between the members of the opposition, it may be defined 
as a contrastive use of the counter-member of the opposition. As a rule, it is the 
marked member of the opposition that is employed transpositionally, but not 
always so. 
e.g. 
He is always borrowing my pen. 
The present continuous form in the example stands in sharp contradiction 
with its regular grammatical meaning “action in progress at the present time”. 
There is no doubt that the contradiction is purposeful: by exaggeration, it 
intensifies the implied disapproval of the person’s behavior. 
The verbal categories of tense, aspect and temporal correlation are all 
subject to oppositional reduction. Let us consider the following examples: 
Category of tense: 
eg. 
The big Christmas sale starts next Monday.
Your order will be sent to you immediately after we get a copy of your 
receipt.
The two examples present cases of neutralization of the opposition “present 
vs. future”. Present forms “starts” and “get” refer to future actions. In the first case 
neutralization is