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future meaning
Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:08 pm
by Gabriel
Is it correct to say "She has bought a computer for two years" meaning she intends to keep the computer for two years.
Re: future meaning
Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:21 pm
by Lorikeet
Gabriel wrote:Is it correct to say "She has bought a computer for two years" meaning she intends to keep the computer for two years.
We could probably have a big discussion here (and probably already have!) on the meaning of "correct."
As for your sentence, I would prefer something like, "She has bought a computer, which she intends to keep for two years." The first one, while perhaps acceptable to someone, is very jarring on first reading because generally when you buy something it's bought, and you don't keep buying it. (Of course, I'm sure you can think of some dandy examples where you can as well
.)
Re: future meaning
Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 10:42 pm
by metal56
Gabriel wrote:Is it correct to say "She has bought a computer for two years" meaning she intends to keep the computer for two years.
How about:
She has bought a computer and will keep it for two years.
You can use that construction with things like season tickets, permits, licenses and so on:
He has bought a permit for two years.
But, I prefer:
He has bought a two-year permit.
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:27 pm
by mercurius
She has rented a flat for two years.
No problem.
She has bought a flat.
No problem.
She has bought a flat for two years.
Still not entirely clear. Quite possible in speech, but not really acceptable in writing.
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 4:33 am
by Macavity
Mercurious wrote "She has rented a flat for two years".
I see a difficulty here in as much as I think it's possible to understand this sentence as having a similar meaning to : She has been renting a flat for two years/She has rented a flat since 2003.
Perhaps it would be safer to write: She has taken out a lease on a flat for two years/She has taken out a two-year lease on a flat. Otherwise perhaps confusion can be averted in the learners' minds with a small qualification, maybe: She has rented a flat for the next/coming two years. This would seem to make the future aspect clearer; for me anyway.
I also think the original construction is OK for rail cards, season tickets and this sort of thing.
Re: future meaning
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 6:01 am
by fluffyhamster
