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Zil Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

How to express a punctual action completed right at the present?

We could use the present perfect for actions completed before now. We could also use the present perfect for durative actions that continue up to the present, which may or may not complete at the moment of speaking.

e.g. I haven't seen you for a long time.

The durative action of not seeing the person completes at the moment of meeting.

So I am wondering whether I can use the present perfect for punctual verbs (e.g. start, end, buy) that complete at the present?
  

Top answer

g. start, end, buy) that complete at the present? It would be nice to see what you have in mind.

— Mister Micawber

  • g.
  • start, end, buy) that complete at the present?
  • It would be nice to see what you have in mind.
  • These are good and have various meanings: The class has already started.
  • The sale has ended.
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3 Answers
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ZilSo I am wondering whether I can use the present perfect for punctual verbs (e.g. start, end, buy) that complete at the present?
It would be nice to see what you have in mind. These are good and have various meanings:

The class has already started.
The sale has ended.
They've bought the house.
I've bought three b
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Hi Mister Micawber,

Here's what I thought:
Mister MicawberThe class has already started.
from this sentence, we know that the action of starting class happened and completed in the past (before now).
i.e. x now

what if the action happens and completes right at the present (at now) ?
i.e. x(n
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Zilwhat if the action happens and completes right at the present (at now) ?i.e. x(now)Would it be:"The class starts", or "the class has started"?
'The class is starting' or 'the class has started'. Both overlap 'now' with the first on the earlier side of the mid-line of 'now'.
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