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Listenever Posted 10 years ago
At 1:22, Jimmy Kimmel says:
And here they are, performing their song in support of a candidate who really needs some support right now...
As is apparent from context, they are backstage and have yet to come onstage and start performing their song at the time of speaking.
Here are my questions:
(1) Is the comma necessary after "are"?
(2) Why is performing instead of "to perform" grammatically correct? If so, how does the present participle performing denote an action that has not been actualized at the time of speaking?
(3) Is it possible in context to say "to perform" instead of "performing". And if Jimmy said "to perform" would the comma after "are" be necessary or even possible?
Grammar
Here they are(,) performing...
At 1:22, Jimmy Kimmel says:
And here they are, performing their song in support of a candidate who really needs some support right now...
As is apparent from context, they are backstage and have yet to come onstage and start performing their song at the time of speaking.
Here are my questions:
(1) Is the comma necessary after "are"?
(2) Why is performing instead of "to perform" grammatically correct? If so, how does the present participle performing denote an action that has not been actualized at the time of speaking?
(3) Is it possible in context to say "to perform" instead of "performing". And if Jimmy said "to perform" would the comma after "are" be necessary or even possible?
Top answer
1) Given the way he says it, yes. 2/3) "to perform" is possible too. It would have a sense a bit like like "they have come here to perform".
- 1) Given the way he says it, yes.
- 2/3) "to perform" is possible too.
- It would have a sense a bit like like "they have come here to perform".
- As with the original, the presence or absence of a comma reflects two different ways of saying it, but the version with the comma seems the most appropriate here.
- g.
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3 Answers
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1) Given the way he says it, yes.
2/3) "to perform" is possible too. It would have a sense a bit like like "they have come here to perform". As with the original, the presence or absence of a comma reflects two different ways of saying it, but the version with the comma seems the most appropriate here.
In English, present tenses can, in the right context, be used for future event
2/3) "to perform" is possible too. It would have a sense a bit like like "they have come here to perform". As with the original, the presence or absence of a comma reflects two different ways of saying it, but the version with the comma seems the most appropriate here.
In English, present tenses can, in the right context, be used for future event
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GPY1) Given the way he says it, yes.Are you referring to the way he emphasized "are" or the way he paused after "are"?
GPY"to perform" is possible too. It would have a sense a bit like like "they have come here to perform".
GPYIn English, present tenses can, in the right context, be used for future
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listeneverAre you referring to the way he emphasized "are" or the way he paused after "are"?The two go together. If "Here they are" is made a phrase (rather than "are" being a part of the continuous tense formation "are performing"), then it is automatic to give "are" some stress.
listeneverThen, does the OP translate to "Here they are
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