I just read a part of conversation between two people on a book, which I am not gonna quote the exact words due to copyright stuff. It goes something like
Hey, I am Kettle you must be Stove, my new roommate. I can tell by your profile picture.
"Finally, we meet!"
Now I am wondering, is it right to use the present tense? I would have said Finally, we met!
What is the difference and why would someone say that sentence in a present tense?
Edited:
I am asking this question, because, chronologically, the action of meeting has to be prior to uttering that sentence? I mean "to meet" is instantaneous and hence, the utterance has to be after the instance of meeting! Also, the adverb "finally" in the beginning of sentence makes me feel like something has already finished!
Best Answer
"Finally, we meet!" is the correct form.
The present tense is perfectly appropriate, because the act of "meeting" is more than just the moment in time in which the contact was made. It is usually considered to span over the entire time the people are together during that encounter.
We may say "Finally, we met!" if you are later discussing (online, perhaps) the meeting that took place earlier, after which you parted and went your separate ways.