Tense × Modal Base composition #
@cite{klecha-2016}
The four-cell matrix that arises when @cite{klecha-2016}'s modal-base pronoun temporal constraints (DOX gives RT ≤ EvalT, CIR gives RT > EvalT) intersect with grammatical tense (PAST gives RT < EvalT, NPST gives RT ≥ EvalT).
| DOX (RT ≤ t) | CIR (RT > t) | |
|---|---|---|
| PAST (RT < t) | RT < t (past) | False (impossible) |
| NPST (RT ≥ t) | RT = t (simultaneous) | RT > t (future) |
The four cells are realized as ↔ theorems below. The DOX/PAST cell
gives the genuine past reading of "Martina thought Carissa got pregnant";
DOX/NPST forces simultaneity; CIR/NPST gives the future-oriented reading
of "Martina hoped Carissa got pregnant" (with surface PAST morphology
analyzed as SOT agreement over semantic NPST per @cite{klecha-2016}
§3.3); CIR/PAST is empty.
The attitudeTemporalConstraint dispatch and its derivation from
situation-base membership live in
Theories/Semantics/Modality/TemporalConstraint.lean. This file is the
tense-side projection of that machinery.
What this file does NOT formalize #
The contrast @cite{klecha-2016} draws (§4.1) is between constraining the prejacent's RT vs binding the open temporal argument inside the prejacent. This file formalizes the constraint side only. Klecha's de se enrichment (§3.4 + Appendix B), where attitudes quantify over centered histories ⟨y, u, i⟩, is not formalized here. Aspect (PRV/be-ing per Klecha eq 26), SOT agreement as a transformation, and Double Access readings (§5.3) are likewise out of scope.
The four-cell matrix #
DOX ∧ PAST = past: under a doxastic modal base with semantic past tense, the embedded reference time is strictly before the evaluation time. Both constraints are satisfiable, and their conjunction is just PAST (since RT < t implies RT ≤ t).
CIR ∧ PAST = ⊥: a circumstantial modal base requires RT > t, but semantic past tense requires RT < t. The conjunction is empty. The surface "past" morphology in "Martina hoped Carissa got pregnant" under the future-oriented (CIR) reading is SOT agreement over semantic NPST per @cite{klecha-2016} §3.3, not semantic PAST.
DOX ∧ NPST = simultaneous: a doxastic modal base requires RT ≤ t, and non-past tense requires RT ≥ t. The conjunction forces RT = t. This is why "Martina thought Carissa was pregnant" with non-past (SOT-agreed) gives a simultaneous reading.
CIR ∧ NPST = future: a circumstantial modal base requires RT > t, and non-past tense requires RT ≥ t. The conjunction is RT > t. This is why "Martina hoped Carissa got pregnant" with non-past (SOT-agreed) gives a future-oriented reading under CIR.