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Teo Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Richard is finally giving up
After 20 years on the couch, Richard is finally giving up therapy.
How can finally give up be used in the progressive aspect?
Isn't that semantically odd?
How can finally give up be used in the progressive aspect?
Isn't that semantically odd?
Top answer
In this context, 'finally' is used to indicate the point at which something happens after a period of time. Other examples are "After waiting nearly an hour, the train finally arrived". "After being unemployed for 2 years, John finally got a job", "Janet finally passed her driving test, having failed it twice already".
- In this context, 'finally' is used to indicate the point at which something happens after a period of time.
- Other examples are "After waiting nearly an hour, the train finally arrived".
- "After being unemployed for 2 years, John finally got a job", "Janet finally passed her driving test, having failed it twice already".
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6 Answers
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In this context, 'finally' is used to indicate the point at which something happens after a period of time.
Other examples are "After waiting nearly an hour, the train finally arrived". "After being unemployed for 2 years, John finally got a job", "Janet finally passed her driving test, having failed it twice already".
Other examples are "After waiting nearly an hour, the train finally arrived". "After being unemployed for 2 years, John finally got a job", "Janet finally passed her driving test, having failed it twice already".
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After 20 years on the couch, Richard is finally giving up therapy.
is finally giving up
brings everything to the current present, rolling as we speak, making it more lively.
Also:
After 20 years on the couch, Richard is finally gives up therapy.
wouldn't have been str
is finally giving up
brings everything to the current present, rolling as we speak, making it more lively.
Also:
After 20 years on the couch, Richard is finally gives up therapy.
wouldn't have been str
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You could also say "[Last week,] he finally gave up on therapy."
The "is giving up" shows that this ceasing of therapy is still quite a new idea for Richard.
(I would have said "giving up on" as in "no longer assuming it will help him." Because he was the one ON the couch, I assume he was the one in therapy, not the therapist, so that seems more logical to me. If he were t
The "is giving up" shows that this ceasing of therapy is still quite a new idea for Richard.
(I would have said "giving up on" as in "no longer assuming it will help him." Because he was the one ON the couch, I assume he was the one in therapy, not the therapist, so that seems more logical to me. If he were t
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Hi all
I don't disagree with the previous posters, but I would like to point out the fact that in English the continuous present can also often be used to indicate a future action: He is coming tomorrow.
Richard may be in the process of giving up his therapy, he may have decided to do so but still has an appointment or two with his therapist. In other words, the process has not
I don't disagree with the previous posters, but I would like to point out the fact that in English the continuous present can also often be used to indicate a future action: He is coming tomorrow.
Richard may be in the process of giving up his therapy, he may have decided to do so but still has an appointment or two with his therapist. In other words, the process has not
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Yes, I agree with CB. I'd say it means he has taken the decision to stop (and is stopping next week).
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