  The intuitive classical space-time picture breaks down in quantum gravity,
which makes a comparison and the development of semiclassical techniques quite
complicated. Using ingredients of the group averaging method to solve
constraints one can nevertheless introduce a classical coordinate time into the
quantum theory, and use it to investigate the way a semiclassical continuous
description emerges from discrete quantum evolution. Applying this technique to
test effective classical equations of loop cosmology and their implications for
inflation and bounces, we show that the effective semiclassical theory is in
good agreement with the quantum description even at short scales.
