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Seyfihoca Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Progressive aspect of certain verbs

0 hello 02br
02br
00can we use such verbs as "finish, start, begin" in progressive tenses? If yes, could you please some references where such a possibility is indicated, if not, why??? 02br
02br
00Thanks. 0-
  

Top answer

0Not normally, because they are 'instantaneous' actions; nevertheless, they do crop up, rarely. Somewhere around here, there's a long thread on starting a car which stretches the imagination. 02br 02br 00Dad: There!

— Mister Micawber

  • 0Not normally, because they are 'instantaneous' actions; nevertheless, they do crop up, rarely.
  • Somewhere around here, there's a long thread on starting a car which stretches the imagination.
  • 02br 02br 00Dad: There!
  • I've finished the rumpus room!
  • 02br 00Mom: Oh, you've been finishing the rumpus room for three weeks now, but you always manage to find something else that needs doing.
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4 Answers
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0Not normally, because they are 'instantaneous' actions; nevertheless, they do crop up, rarely. Somewhere around here, there's a long thread on starting a car which stretches the imagination. 02br
02br
00Dad: There! I've finished the rumpus room! 02br
00Mom: Oh, you've been finishing the rumpus room for three weeks now, but you always manage to find something
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0 Yes, it is possible: 02br
00"I was finishing breakfast when the doorbell rang": I was having my last bite of toasted bread when... 02br
02br
00"It was starting to rain, so I went into a pub": the first drops of rain were falling... 02br
02br
00etc... 0-
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0Thanks, Pieanne-- much better examples than mine. 0-
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0 Didn't mean to contradict you or anything, but I think we wrote the post at the same time, it just took me longer to find the examples! 0-
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