User talk:Eypper

<<The article also really needs a list of what languages still have this aspect or treat it separately in a grammatical sense. In English, it exists, but requires different vocabulary, not grammatical changes like a verb tense would. | Keithlaw 02:38, 4 Apr 2005 (UTC)

(To prove this to yourself, think about the sentences: "I'm seeing a bird", "I'm finding the truth", and "I'm hearing some music". None of them sounds quite right, as the verbs are aorist in nature and cannot be used as processes. If, however, you substitute "looking at", "searching for", and "listening to" for "seeing", "finding" and "hearing", the sentences sound correct, as the verbs do describe processes.)

This part needs reworked. It is not true that none of these sounds quite right; these forms can be used to emphasize the process being referred to. I can think of several examples where these sentences would be considered perfectly valid and grammatical constructions:

To a scientific researcher, who is receiving heavy ethical and moral criticism over questionable methodology:

"You can't do that! Just what are you doing with this research?" "I'm finding the truth."

To a participant in a psychological experiment, who was previously shown a card bearing the image of a cow (for some reason), and is now being shown a card with a bird on it:

"And what are you seeing now?" "Now I'm seeing a bird."

Someone is listening to radio noise from outer space, seeking signs of intelligent life. In astonishment, they say:

"Strange... I'm hearing some noise.. and now I'm hearing some music!"

Kwertii 23:30, 6 Apr 2005 (UTC)>>

I am a professional English teacher, and the writer of the above is correct: this part does need to be reworked. Some verbs in English do not take an "-ing" form [Thomson and Martinet, p. 95, says "normally"). "See" is one of them.  For someone to say: "I am seeing a bird"  Is simply incorrect English. This is the way some Pakistanis and Indians speak English, but it is incorrect.  "Seeing" is a general function (I see mountains, trees, and rivers), while what is demanded is "I am looking at a bird," the specific form.  English does not have an aorist tense, as Greek still does. Eypper, 22:30 CET, 25.07.2008