<i>Tenho cantado</i> and <i>venho cantando</i> in Brazilian Portuguese

Abstract We investigate the well studied Pretérito Perfeito Composto ( tenho cantado ) and the rather under-studied vir + gerúndio periphrasis ( venho cantando ) in Brazilian Portuguese based on the working hypothesis that they represent functionally highly similar but competing constructions. Aiming at identifying linguistic factors that impact the choice between them, the theoretical and corpus-based analysis discovers a diverging treatment of the underlying eventuality’s potential to be continued after the speech time, as well as a contrary preference concerning morphological number of involved arguments. Within a broader research context, this contributes new evidence concerning the current status of the Pretérito Perfeito Composto in Brazilian Portuguese. While it has been argued that it tends be displaced more and more by the Simple Past, the present study reveals that the vir + gerúndio periphrasis is another emerging competitor.