Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hela]

Dear teachers,

Are the following sentences correct ? If yes, in which circumstances can they be used ?

1) � I am thinking of visiting New York next year.�, does it mean that I have not decided for sure yet ?

2) "I am thinking his name was bill" (possible ? If yes, what does it mean?)

3) "I am wishing I had stayed home!"

4) �I am hoping to take my exam soon.�

5) �I was hoping that there would be a few tickets left for the jazz concert.�

Do you have some better examples where we can combine stative verbs and progressive aspect?


Thank you very much for your help.
Hela

[helen1]

Hi Hela,

All of your examples are correct....

Aspect is difficult to explain but indicates the speakers' connection with the event i.e. whether it is viewed as remote or non-remote - this could be in time/space etc.

In order to understand Aspect, you need to think about the time or event which the speaker is talking of as separate and distinct to the time he/she is talking - does that make sense?


The progressive aspect indicates the speaker views the situation as non-remote i.e. in progress or connected to the moment of speaking.

1) yes it does mean you haven't yet decided - the progressive indicates the idea is non-remote... you are still thinking

2) yes it's possible - it carries a vague implication that you just have an intuitive feeling that was his name -progressive form indicates that the thinking is not complete and is therefore not remote in the speaker's mind
contrast I think his name was Bill - this indicates the thinking although present is not still in progress i.e. remote from the moment of speaking
Note: although this is possible it is not common.

All the others are possible and common - the only other one I think may need a comment is
5) the use of the past tense with progressive aspect "I was hoping...." shows although there are no tickets left now - the speaker still feels connected to the point in time which he/she is remembering and at that time he/she still had the hope ticets would be left.....

Another way that might help would be to think of it as the speaker placing him/herself inside the event, kind of in a time machine way going forward or backwards to that point in time or that event.

I really hope this hasn't confused you too much....

Helen