NATO defense ministers wrap up their meeting in Brussels today.

[kadioguy]

If you wrap up something such as a job or an agreement, you complete it in a satisfactory way.

NATO defense ministers wrap up their meeting in Brussels today.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-korean/wrap-up
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Why is "wrap up" in the present simple? A possible context would be that the words are a caption of a news photo. Another possible answer would be that the event is scheduled.

What do you think?

(Edit: fixed a typo and changed "captions" to "a caption".)

 

[Barque]

NATO defense ministers wrap up their meeting in Brussels today.

It means they finished the meeting (or will finish) today, and everything related to it.

A possible context would be that the words are captions of a news photo. Another possibe answer would be that the event is scheduled.

Neither. It means "finished", usually with the implication "finished successfully".

 

[kadioguy]

It means they finished the meeting, and everything related to it.

It means "finished", usually with the implication "finished successfully".

But why not "wrapped up"?

 

[Barque]

I edited my post. The caption means either that they finished or will finish. The present tense can be used for both, especially when used as a heading or caption.

 

[Barque]

English is a very flexible language.

 

[Barque]

I know it's confusing but unfortunately headings and captions sometimes have a grammar of their own.

 

[kadioguy]

The caption means either that they finished or will finish. The present tense can be used for both, especially when used as a heading or caption.

So, do you think one way to explain that is that it's a caption?

 

[Barque]

That's the only way.

In a caption "They wrap up today" can mean either "They wrapped up today" or "They will wrap up today". You have to read the main content to understand which is the intended meaning.

 

[Barque]

Native English speakers often take liberties with the language. Don't assume that everything you read on the net is technically correct just because it was written by a native speaker. Native speakers often use shortened versions of sentences that aren't, strictly speaking, grammatical.

 

[kadioguy]

That's the only way.

Then I think I said that (a caption of a news photo) in post #1.

 

[Barque]

Yes, so you did. Sorry.

 

[kadioguy]

That's the only way.

But how about it being a scheduled event? Then the present simple can be also used.

 

[Barque]

"Wrap up" means "finish". It can't be used to say an event is scheduled. They mean completely different things.

 

[kadioguy]

"Wrap up" means "finish". It can't be used to say an event is scheduled. They mean completely different things.

I mean, it's something like this:

NATO defense ministers are scheduled to wrap up/fininsh their meeting in Brussels today.

So, NATO defense ministers wrap up/fininsh their meeting in Brussels today. [The timeline shows that.]

 

[Barque]

That's very different. Your original question sounded as if you were asking if it meant that the meeting was scheduled for the day which means "Was the meeting scheduled to be held that day?"

 

[Barque]

Do you get the difference?

 

[Barque]

NATO defense ministers are scheduled to wrap up/fininsh their meeting in Brussels today.

Yes, it could mean this. "Will finish today".

 

[Barque]

When you say "scheduled for [date]", it means "expected to start on [date]".

When you say "scheduled to wrap up on date", it means "expected to finish on [date]".

Another possible answer would be that the event is scheduled.

You didn't word this correctly. You meant "the event is scheduled to finish". If you just say "scheduled", it means the start date.

Look up the dictionary meaning of "schedule" (as a verb).

 

[Barque]

I've edited my message. Re-read please.

 

[kadioguy]

When you say "scheduled for [date]", it means "expected to start on [date]".

When you say "scheduled to wrap up on date", it means "expected to finish on [date]".

You didn't word this correctly. You meant "the event is scheduled to finish". If you just say "scheduled", it means the start date.

Look up the dictionary meaning of "schedule" (as a verb).

In post #1 I meant the item/action "to wrap up the meeting" is scheduled.