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 Nov 12 2009, 03:11 PM
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Advanced Member  Group: Members Posts: 492 Joined: 12-April 05 Member No.: 63  |
1-1-I have stopped working today.
2-I have stopped working for today. 3-I stopped working today. Which of the above correspond to which of the below: a-I stopped working defintively or for a long period of time (I stopped working today and will start work after I have been completely cured of this disease.) b-I have stopped working for today and I will start working again tomorrow c.The sentence is ambiguous |
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Nov 12 2009, 05:31 PM
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 240 Joined: 9-July 09 Member No.: 869 |
QUOTE (navi @ Nov 12 2009, 04:11 PM)  1-1-I have stopped working today. 2-I have stopped working for today. 3-I stopped working today. Which of the above correspond to which of the below: a-I stopped working defintively or for a long period of time (I stopped working today and will start work after I have been completely cured of this disease.) b-I have stopped working for today and I will start working again tomorrow c.The sentence is ambiguous As stand alone sentences, none would be clear as to meaning, Navi. |
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Nov 13 2009, 09:16 AM
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 Advanced Member  Group: GB Supporter 2008 Posts: 1,164 Joined: 21-January 05 From: Enormous State University, US Midwest Member No.: 17 |
I have stopped working for today clearly means "I am not going to work anymore today, but I will be back to work tomorrow (or Monday)."
I stopped working today means "I stopped working," but, because this situation is out of the ordinary, it indicates that you stopped working for a reason (You went on strike? You got mad and quit your job? You retired?) Without more context, we'd assume that you stopped permanently. Usually, it's better to give more information: I retired today. I quit my job today. I went on sick leave today. The sentence I have stopped working today is unusual. We might say "I have retired" or we might say "I retired last February." We would not say "I have retired last February." When we specify a time we use simple past tense. -------------------- Sparky
In wine there is wisdom. In beer there is freedom. In water there is bacteria. |
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Nov 13 2009, 08:52 PM
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 240 Joined: 9-July 09 Member No.: 869 |
QUOTE (Sparky @ Nov 13 2009, 10:16 AM) I have stopped working for today clearly means "I am not going to work anymore today, but I will be back to work tomorrow (or Monday)." Sparky's right. The sentence I have stopped working today is unusual. We might say "I have retired" or we might say "I retired last February." We would not say "I have retired last February." When we specify a time we use simple past tense. It is unusual but not because the present perfect is matched with 'today'. It's unusual because we don't use that collocation to express this idea. It's unusual because it's not natural. "As of today, I have stopped working" would be a strong possibility; "As of today, I have stopped eating meat". There is a rumor that when we include a past time adjunct, [not just "When we specify a time] we don't use the present perfect. Normally, that is the case and it is a strong one. However, there are situations where the present perfect of importance overrides this and the present perfect is used with a past time adjunct. |
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| Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 8th September 2010 - 04:40 AM |
