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#2 (permalink) Tue Mar 07, 2006 19:57 pm Arrest |
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Hi,
The verb arrest means stop. In this sentence the police officer arrests someone - stops them where they are and then takes them to a police station.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 17284 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:21 am What is the form of the verb here? |
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Hi Teachers,
As I see, the affirmative sentence will be He is being arrested as we speak. Am I right? What is the name of such construction in this case (which is underlined)? Is it the Present Continuous Tense in the Passive Voice? Why Continuous is needed here?
How to say this sentence in other words to convey the sense?
Thank you, Vladimir. _________________ My little horse must think it queer... |
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Vladimir13 I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 24 Apr 2012 Posts: 185 Location: Moscow, Russia
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#4 (permalink) Fri Nov 16, 2012 8:19 am Meaning of arrested |
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It is needed because the action is still in progress at the time of speaking. _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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#5 (permalink) Fri Nov 16, 2012 8:30 am In other words... |
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Hi Beeesneees,
Well, does this variant reproduce the meaning:
The police is arresting him, and we are telling about this event.
?
Thank you, Vladimir. _________________ My little horse must think it queer... |
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Vladimir13 I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 24 Apr 2012 Posts: 185 Location: Moscow, Russia
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#6 (permalink) Fri Nov 16, 2012 8:37 am Meaning of arrested |
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I'm afraid not, for two reasons.
It should be "The police are arresting him". 'Police' is plural: http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic91727.html
'as we speak' is a set phrase which means 'at this moment'. You could say 'as we are telling you about this event', but there is no point in making this phrase so lengthy. _________________ "Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett |
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Beeesneees Language Coach

Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 39144 Location: UK, born and bred
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#7 (permalink) Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:33 am The set phrase was the point! |
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It is very useful as to police, thanks!
I also don't see the advantage of speaking in this long way. I've used it only to accomplish a purpose to understand the sense of the whole sentence. Now I know that as we speak is an American set phrase that means at this moment.
Thank you for your help, Vladimir. _________________ My little horse must think it queer... |
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Vladimir13 I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 24 Apr 2012 Posts: 185 Location: Moscow, Russia
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