Implied meaning

Question

I saw on a website the below paragraph, what did they mean that punctual achievement verbs don't take the progressive form?

Many of these verbs cannot take the progressive form to describe an action that is happening at the moment of speaking. For example, we can't say,

"He is seeing the movie." or, "I am seeing myself in the mirror."

Englishmaven · Accepted Answer

There are certain verbs, that are called stative verbs, that don't generally occur in the continuous tenses. Check this site out. It doesn't include "see" on the list, but it is a good, brief, easy-to-understand site with great examples.

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/stative-verbs-list.pdf

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous I saw on a website the below paragraph, what did they mean that punctual achievement verbs don't take the progressive form?Many of these verbs cannot take the progressive form to describe an action that is happening at the moment of speaking. For example, we can't say,"He is seeing the movie." or, "I am seeing myself in the mirror."

The examples don't even go with the rule, in my opinion.

Examples of punctual achievement verbs: win, die, land (plane)

The progressive of such verbs describes what is about to happen, not what is happening at the moment of utterance.

The plane is landing ~ The plane is about to land.
Jack is winning the race ~ Jack is about to win the race.
His grandmother is dying ~ His grandmother is about to die.

"punctual achievement" is not "stative" so I have no idea why they used the stative "see" as an example.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimThe examples don't even go with the rule, in my opinion.

Thanks a lot CJ.

So would you say that it is totally OK to say “he is seeing the movie” or “I am seeing myself in the mirror”? Because they sound normal to me!

Afterall, how else would you say “he is seeing a movie right now”. Right?

CalifJimamples of punctual achievement verbs: win, die, land (plane)The progressive of such verbs describes what is about to happen, not what is happening at the moment of utterance.The plane is landing ~ The plane is about to land.Jack is winning the race ~ Jack is about to win the race.His grandmother is dying ~ His grandmother is about to die.

These sentence should like they could imply both meanings, what is about to happen and what is happening at the moment of utterance!! If it only implies the former, then how could they be altered to imply what is happening at the moment of utterance?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousAfterall, how else would you say “he is seeing a movie right now”. Right?

Like this: He is watching a movie right now.

AnonymousSo would you say that it is totally OK to say “he is seeing the movie” or “I am seeing myself in the mirror”?

I see myself in the mirror.

"See" does have dynamic uses:

I am seeing her next week.

Anonymoushow could they be altered to imply what is happening at the moment of utterance?

Use adverbs such as "at this moment," "just" with the past tense.
The plane just landed.
His grandmother just took her last breath.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousSo would you say that it is totally OK to say “he is seeing the movie” or “I am seeing myself in the mirror”?

Yes. Your text may have been focusing on the use of these sentences in particular circumstances.

He is watching the movie is more common than He is seeing the movie.
I see myself in the mirror is more common than I am seeing myself in the mirror.

That doesn't mean that there are no circumstances under which the first of each pair might be used.

AnonymousAfter all, how else would you say “he is seeing a movie right now”. Right?

With the verb "watch". See above.

AnonymousIf it only implies the former, then how could they be altered to imply what is happening at the moment of utterance?

They can't be altered because of the meaning of the words. In other words, it's impossible to talk about such an event in on-going present real time. Punctual achievements occur in an instant. By the time you say what is happening, the event is already in the past. The continuous forms of such verbs therefore only tell us what is happening in the moments before the instantaneous event happens (and the non-continuous present only says that this sort of event happens regularly).

... is winning .... is winning ... is winning ...V ... he won ... he won ......
................................................,..................^ ..........................................

^ shows "the instant of the win".

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

CalifJim... is winning .... is winning ... is winning ...V ... he won ... he won ......................................................,.........^ shows "the instant of the win".

At the actual moment of winning, it's possible for us to say "He wins". The present simple is not uncommon with punctual verbs when talking for example in radio/TV commentary, about fast-action sports.

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimYes. Your text may have been focusing on the use of these sentences in particular circumstances.

Thanks CJ.

The text was actually discussed in general, which I saw on a website.

CalifJimHe is watching the movie is more common than He is seeing the movie.I see myself in the mirror is more common than I am seeing myself in the mirror.That doesn't mean that there are no circumstances under which the first of each pair might be used.

Great that they are right and acceptable. So the more common use of the present simple stative verb “see” in the mirror example indicates what is happening at the moment of utterance and not that the event happens regularity, as in what the non continuous present indicates. Right?

CalifJimThey can't be altered because of the meaning of the words. In other words, it's impossible to talk about such an event in on-going present real time. Punctual achievements occur in an instant.

I see.

CalifJimBy the time you say what is happening, the event is already in the past. The continuous forms of such verbs therefore only tell us what is happening in the moments before the instantaneous event happens (and the non-continuous present only says that this sort of event happens regularly).

This explanation of the continuous is only applicable to those punctual achievement verbs and not in general, or otherwise why use the continuous forms. Right

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousSo the more common use of the present simple stative verb “see” in the mirror example indicates what is happening at the moment of utterance and not that the event happens regularity, as in what the non continuous present indicates. Right?

Right.

AnonymousThis explanation of the continuous is only applicable to those punctual achievement verbs and not in general ...

Correct.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim AnonymousSo the more common use of the present simple stative verb “see” in the mirror example indicates what is happening at the moment of utterance and not that the event happens regularity, as in what the non continuous present indicates. Right?Right.AnonymousThis explanation of the continuous is only applicable to those punctual achievement verbs and not in general ...Correct.CJ

Great. Thanks very much CJ. And thank you for unlocking the thread and replying back to me. I truly appreciate it!

Take care,
Joe

Implied meaning

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions