Could the sentence 'The bird flies.' be understood as 'The bird is flying or the bird is able to fly' ?
2007-05-19 05:07:52 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Sorry i meant 'The bird CAN fly or the bird is able to fly.'
2007-05-19 05:13:18 · update #1
"The bird flies," is written in present simple tense, which is normally used to indicate a habit or characteristic. People can interpret it as meaning the same as "The bird is flying," which is written in present continuous tense," but there is a difference.
If I say, "He is eating pizza," it is clear that he is eating right now. The verb+ing in this structure indicates a present, continuing action.
If I say, "He eats pizza," it means that he has the habit or characteristic of eating pizza from time to time.
2007-05-19 06:46:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The bird flies is stating that the bird is flying.
2007-05-19 12:22:53 · answer #2 · answered by Dave aka Spider Monkey 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The bird is able to fly.
2007-05-19 13:57:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The most common interpretation would be "The bird is able to fly", since if you wanted to state "the bird is flying", you would say just that.
2007-05-19 12:15:34 · answer #4 · answered by hersheykiss8908 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Although one can interpret both meanings from that sentence because if something can fly at any particular moment, then it obviously has the ability, I would be more inclined to interpret it as "the bird IS flying, right at this moment."
2007-05-19 12:14:04 · answer #5 · answered by Mama Gretch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say it'd be understood as the bird CAN fly...Or it could also be able to fly...I'm leaning a little bit more towards can, though...Hope this helped, good luck!
2007-05-19 12:38:08 · answer #6 · answered by 546 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes. There are some silly answers stating that one or the other interpretation is "right" or "most likely". Nonsense.
Meaning is context dependent, without more context neither is more likely. And those two choices aren't the only ones.
I fly. Does that mean I use airplanes, I pilot airplanes, I get in a terrific hurry sometimes and rush, I am able to fly, or I just underwent some sci-fi experiment and have compound eyes?
2007-05-19 12:25:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It could be interpreted either way. The reader/listener would need to interpret it based on the context of the sentences before and after it.
2007-05-19 12:35:40 · answer #8 · answered by bunstihl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2007-05-19 12:11:03 · answer #9 · answered by corkinsmarty 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it can be for either
2007-05-19 12:17:59 · answer #10 · answered by m.u.s.i.c♥ 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋