Been waiting

Question

He had been waiting for more than two hours when she finally arrived.Does it indicate that his waiting hadn't yet ended before she arrived or does it show a more intense and emotional situation?

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Anonymousfinally

The adverb finally indicates that he was getting impatient.

Anonymous · Answer

Okay,

It shows a more intense and emotional situation.

Is it correct?

Fivejedjon · Answer

It's a bit over the top for that situation.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm sorry,
What do you mean?

Fivejedjon · Answer

'An intense and emotional situation' is a little excessive to describe a feel of impatience.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousDoes it indicate that his waiting hadn't yet ended before she arrived

Hmm. I'm wondering how you interpret your own sentence. What do you think he was waiting for? You agree that he was waiting for her to arrive, don't you? You agree that she arrived, don't you?

It seems to me that by the meaning of "wait", the act of waiting cannot end until 1) the event waited for occurs, or 2) the person waiting decided not to wait anymore and left. But if the person waiting left, he would not know that "she finally arrived", so the only other choice is that he waited until she arrived. When she arrived, and no sooner, his waiting stopped. So by the definition of "wait", he could not have stopped waiting before she arrived. That would be logically impossible.

CJ

Been waiting

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