1.1.2.2. Instantaneous This expresses the instantaneous completed event. When the speaker sees some acts, they are instantaneously finished and the next acts begin. In the case of the situation, s/he uses the present tense instead of the past tense. (6) a. The woman in kimono staggers to her feet. She walks slowly towards the door. Suddenly she begins to cry. (Araki:1997) b. Johnson passes to Roberts, Roberts to Watkins, Watkins takes it forward, oh he slips past the centre half beautifully, he shoots. (Kashino:1999) (6a) means the speaker directs her on the stage, (6b) is a broad cast commentary on a sport. Since these are the instantaneous acts, although they are the completive act, the speaker treats them as the present. As mentioned above, for example in the broadcast commentary, if an act begins before the act is commented, the present tense is used. But there are some cases where the present progressive form is used if the acts have some duration. For example, if a ball is high in the baseball game, it needs some time to be fallen. The present progressive form expresses the duration, therefore, it is used in the situation. (7) a. The ball is hanging in the air. - Now, he makes the catch. (Yasui:1982) b. Oxford are rowing well. (Ando:2005) (7a) is the baseball game commentary and means the case of the high ball. Moreover, (7b) is the boat race commentary and the present progressive form is used like (7a) because of the slow commentary.

Copyright (c) EnglishCafe : Unapproved printing of the text and figure in this site is forbidden.