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Alexacao Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Please help me with a question on the progressive tense
0 I am puzzled by the following sentence: 02 br
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01 b 00 The flames of war are already raging in Shanghai. 02 b 02 br
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00 This is the translation of a Chinese sentence. In the original text, the sentence means " 00 The flames of war already started to rage in Shanghai 00 " literally. I was wondering whether the progressive in the translation could capture the intended meaning of inchoation of the original sentence. All comments (espcially those by English native speakers) will be appreciated. 0-
02 br
01 b 00 The flames of war are already raging in Shanghai. 02 b 02 br
02 br
00 This is the translation of a Chinese sentence. In the original text, the sentence means " 00 The flames of war already started to rage in Shanghai 00 " literally. I was wondering whether the progressive in the translation could capture the intended meaning of inchoation of the original sentence. All comments (espcially those by English native speakers) will be appreciated. 0-
Top answer
02 br 02 br 00 Cheers 02 br 00 CB 0-
- 02 br 02 br 00 Cheers 02 br 00 CB 0-
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3 Answers
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0 Hi Alexacao 02 br
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00 If the sentence is from a novel, I can think of at least one reason to use the continuous tense: it is more depictive and thus is used a lot in fiction to create a desired atmosphere. 02 br
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00 Cheers 02 br
00 CB 0-
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00 If the sentence is from a novel, I can think of at least one reason to use the continuous tense: it is more depictive and thus is used a lot in fiction to create a desired atmosphere. 02 br
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00 Cheers 02 br
00 CB 0-
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0 Thanks for your comment. 02 br
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00 Indeed, the progressive tense used in the sentence may convey the ongoing meaning as if one can picture the ongoing process in his mind. But the trouble here is that the intended meaning of the original sentence is something like "began and went on raging" rather than simply meaning "was raging". Then, does that mean here "began and went
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00 Indeed, the progressive tense used in the sentence may convey the ongoing meaning as if one can picture the ongoing process in his mind. But the trouble here is that the intended meaning of the original sentence is something like "began and went on raging" rather than simply meaning "was raging". Then, does that mean here "began and went
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0 I agree with what Cool Breeze said. 02 br
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00 Personal opinion: 02 br
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01 i 00 The flames began and went on raging 02 i 00 gives me the idea that they had been raging for some time, and that they might not be extinguished quickly. Just from those words, I have the sense of an extended length of time and a serious problem. 02 br
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00 Personal opinion: 02 br
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01 i 00 The flames began and went on raging 02 i 00 gives me the idea that they had been raging for some time, and that they might not be extinguished quickly. Just from those words, I have the sense of an extended length of time and a serious problem. 02 br
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