meaning of (has continued to do so until now)

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ansonman
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meaning of (has continued to do so until now)

Post by ansonman »

I have made up the example below.

(ex) Jack started writing his first novel last year and has continued to do so until now.

None of my friends are native English speakers. They all think that the present present talks about an event in the past leading up to the present. However, in this sentence, they interpret it in two ways. Their first interpretation is - He continues to work on it now. Their second interpretation is - He finished it recently.

What is your opinion? Thank you very much.
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Joe
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Re: meaning of (has continued to do so until now)

Post by Joe »

ansonman wrote: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:36 pm I have made up the example below.

(ex) Jack started writing his first novel last year and has continued to do so until now.

None of my friends are native English speakers. They all think that the present present talks about an event in the past leading up to the present. However, in this sentence, they interpret it in two ways. Their first interpretation is - He continues to work on it now. Their second interpretation is - He finished it recently.

What is your opinion? Thank you very much.
To be honest, my first reaction is that Jack has continued to START writing his first novel until now. That means he still hasn't finished starting :mrgreen:

I THINK you mean:

Jack started writing his first novel last year and has continued to write it until now.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

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Joe
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Re: meaning of (has continued to do so until now)

Post by Joe »

Joe wrote: Fri Jan 01, 2021 2:08 pm
ansonman wrote: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:36 pm I have made up the example below.

(ex) Jack started writing his first novel last year and has continued to do so until now.

None of my friends are native English speakers. They all think that the present present talks about an event in the past leading up to the present. However, in this sentence, they interpret it in two ways. Their first interpretation is - He continues to work on it now. Their second interpretation is - He finished it recently.

What is your opinion? Thank you very much.
To be honest, my first reaction is that Jack has continued to START writing his first novel until now. That means he still hasn't finished starting :mrgreen:

I THINK you mean:

Jack started writing his first novel last year and has continued to write it until now.

In this scenario we don't know whether he has finished or not, but probably not.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

eBooks: English Prepositions List | Essential Business Words | Learn English in Seven
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Joe
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Re: meaning of (has continued to do so until now)

Post by Joe »

ansonman wrote: Sun Dec 27, 2020 11:36 pm I have made up the example below.

(ex) Jack started writing his first novel last year and has continued to do so until now.

None of my friends are native English speakers. They all think that the present present talks about an event in the past leading up to the present. However, in this sentence, they interpret it in two ways. Their first interpretation is - He continues to work on it now. Their second interpretation is - He finished it recently.

What is your opinion? Thank you very much.
To be honest, my first reaction is that Jack has continued to START writing his first novel until now. That means he still hasn't finished STARTING :mrgreen:

I THINK you mean:

Jack started writing his first novel last year and has continued to write it until now.
Jack started writing his first novel last year and has continued writing it until now.

In this scenario we don't know whether he has finished or not, but probably not.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

eBooks: English Prepositions List | Essential Business Words | Learn English in Seven
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