taken a course

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Do you agree with my analysis when my grandson is doing a course this term? (the term has not ended yet)

Almost no difference in meaning:
-He is taking a Danish course. (in progress, so 'is take+ing')
-He has taken a Danish course. (=construing the act of taking as something that happened in the past in the online enrolment sysment, so 'has taken', linking the past to the present)

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Type: Question • Score: 4 • Views: 547 • Replies: 12

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@WBYeats,

Almost no difference in meaning: What do you mean here? YES there is a difference in these sentences.

-He is taking a Danish course. ( = action is in progress)

-He has taken a Danish course. (= he has completed the course.)

He took a Danish course. (= he has completed the course.)

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@PUNKEY,

I said almost no difference, because I thought the two sentences I gave could refer to the same situation, while there are subtle differences, so I said ALMOST.

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@PUNKEY,

Quote:

-He has taken a Danish course. (= he has completed the course.)

Not necessarily. When I asked my Better Half, who I'm sure you will agree is much smarter than I, she agreed with you. However after reconsideration she allowed it might still be going on

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@dalehileman,

Do you agree the act of taking can be construed as something that happened for a moment in the past?

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@WBYeats,

Quote:

Do you agree the act of taking can be construed as something that happened for a moment in the past?

I think WB it might depend upon the specific case and construction. Taking a course is of course not something done in an instant

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@PUNKEY,

Quote:

-He has taken a Danish course. (= he has completed the course.)

Not necessarily.
He has taken the camel road to Iraq. He might get there by next week.
I have taken rooms in Baker Street. I still live there.

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@dalehileman,

um... I mean, could TAKE mean the same as ENROL, which act is done in an instant.

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@WBYeats,

No WB I don't think so

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@WBYeats,

Yes of course.

Take your pick.
Take a powder.
Take your time.
Take a moment to rest.

It's very flexible.

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@McTag,

Thank you~

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@McTag,

Yea Mac. However I understood WB was asking whether it could mean to enroll

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@dalehileman,

Well I think it could, don't you?

And I think I agree with what Punkey said, that "I took a course" suggests that the course is finished, this was in the past.
Otherwise you might say "I started a course" or "I'm in a course".

Second thoughts are sometimes more productive!

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taken a course

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