I've only come for an hour.

[diamondcutter]

I've only come for an hour.

This sentence is from Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese Dictionary. The Chinese translation says it means “I’ve been here for just one hour.”

But on this website: [url]https://www.cpsenglish.com/question/2316,[/URL] the author says the sentence means “I’ve come here and I want to stay for just one hour.”

What do you say?

 

[emsr2d2]

The person on the website is correct. We don't use "I've come" to mean "I've been here".

 

[jutfrank]

The sentence means 'the length of my stay is one hour'. It doesn't say anything about at which point in this hour the sentence is uttered, but it's likely to be said at or near the beginning of the stay.

The Chinese translation is wrong.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, Emsr2d2 and Jutfrank.

Context:
Time: Friday

Place: At the school library

I’m going to return a book which I borrowed from the school library on Monday, when I meet my friend, Tom. He asks me how long I have kept the book. I’d like to know if I can answer him like this:

I’ve borrowed this book for five days.

Or if I can only say this sentence at the beginning of the borrowing or on the following days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but not Friday.

 

[tedmc]

You may have borrowed the book for five days but return it before it is due.
Your last sentence cannot be understood.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, Tedmc.

In this sentence: I've just come for an hour, I think "for an hour" is not the adverbial of time but purpose because “coming” is a one-off activity and it can't last for an hour.

We know this:
1. How long may I keep this book? √
2. How long may I borrow this book?:cross:
3. How long may I borrow this book for?√

Why does Sentence 3 need the preposition "for"?
I think the reason is the same as that in this sentence: I've just come for an hour. That is to say, "borrow" is also a one-off activity as the verb "come". "Borrow" can't last for a period of time. When the verb "borrow" is used with "for + a period of time", the "for" phrase is not the adverbial of time but purpose. You can say "I want to borrow your bike for five days", and when you return the bike on the fifth day, you can also say "I've used your bike for five days", but you can't say "I've borrowed your bike for five days." However, on the second, third and fourth day, I think you can say "I've borrowed your bike for five days" because "for five days" is the adverbial of purpose, not time. In I've borrowed your bike for five days, "for five days" doesn't refer to the duration of borrowing, which doesn’t have duration.

I’d like to read your comments.

 

[5jj]

You can say I’ve borrowed this book for five days at any time during the five days up until the time you return it, when you say I borrowed this book for five days.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, 5jj.

Context: Our plan is to build a house in five months.

Can I say we’ve built this house for five months at any time during the five months up until the time we finish the building?

 

[tedmc]

No, when you say you have built the house, it means the house is completed. If not, you say you are building/constructing/erecting it. The house is being built, not the house is built.

 

[Tdol]

We've been building this house for two months and it will take another three to complete it.