6.2.3. The incompletive act of the active verb The progressive form also has the incompletive meaning. See the following examples. (11) a. I read a book last night. b. I was reading a book last night. (11a) means finishing one book, but (11b) is unknown, because it expresses reading merely. It is usually said that it implicates not finishing the book yet. See the following figures. (12) a. I read a book last night. b. I was reading a book last night. In (12a), E is the point only, that is, it is the end of the point. E of (12b) is also the point and has the durative time line on it, therefore, the speaker pays attention to the durative act. Moreover, the starting point and the ending point of the act are obvious. Even if the ending point is in the context, it does not mean finishing the book. The next examples are quoted from Leech (1987). (13) a. I was reading from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. b. I read from 10 to 11 p.m. He explained, (13b) means finishing the book between 10 and 11, but (13a) is not. It merely pays attention to reading. The durative time line of the above time representation is parallel to this time phrase. It is certain that the line expresses the starting point and the ending point but these are obvious in the speaker's mind. As mentioned above the progressive form does not mean the completion. Now, if the completive verb is used and it can not be expressed the repeated act, it becomes the particular meaning. See the following examples. (14) a. The man drowned. b. The bus stopped. The above means the completive meaning, (14a) means he is dead and (14b) means the bus does not move. These verbs are the completive verbs and can not express the repeated act. Because to die one more, the man has to resurrect, and to stop one more, the bus have to start again. The next examples are the progressive forms. (15) a. The man was drowning. b. The bus was stopping. The above means process which is close to the end. For example, (15a) means the man was almost dead, (15b) means the bus almost stopped. Moreover, the stative verb can be used with the progressive form to express process. See the following examples. (16) a. I'm forgetting it. b. I'm liking my neighbors more and more. c. I'm seeing it more clearly. (16a) means s/he almost forgets, (16b) means s/he has recently been getting well with each other, and (16c) means something is close to the speaker.

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