Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Paul Zellmer <zellmer AT cag.pworld.net.ph>]

Matthew Anstey wrote:

> Gday Rolf,
>
> You wrote,
> > the English verbs "went" and "thought" will for instance never change
> their past meaning.
>
> Is the following example a counter-example to this, or is it idiomatic:
> Jo: Did you hear that Bill Clinton was impeached?
> Bill: I thought that was impossible.
>
> Is Bill in effect saying "I am thinking now that this is impossible"?

Hi, Matthew,

Sorry to stick my nose in here, but, if you think carefully about your 
example,
"thought" does indeed refer to an event in the past.  "Bill" may be surprised 
in the
present, but, since "Bill Clinton" was in fact reported by "Jo" to be 
impeach, he
could no longer deem such an occurrence as impossible.  The "impossible" is 
now not
only possible, but fact.

> Similarly, we have,
> "I never knew that" and "I didn't realise that". Perhaps in English verbs of
> cognition can be used with past forms for a present meaning.

The sayings refer to actions in the past.  They say nothing explicitly about 
the
present.  In fact, they imply that the present state of cognition is the exact
opposite of that which was past.

Just my thoughts,

Paul

--
Paul and Dee Zellmer, Jimmy Guingab, Geoffrey Beltran
Ibanag Translation Project
Cabagan, Philippines

zellmer AT faith.edu.ph