“[...] ± Telic” A [+tel] SoA is a SoA [state of affairs] which, if it is fully achieved, reaches a natural terminal point. Compare the following expressions: (8) a. John was painting [-tel] b. John was painting a portrait [+tel] c. John was painting portraits [-tel] Note that one can go on painting or painting portraits indefinitely, but one cannot go on painting a portrait indefinitely. At least, the idea of painting a portrait is such that if the action is fully achieved, the product of the action, the portrait, is finished. It is clear that in the examples (a-c) it is the nature of the Goal term which determines the telicity.
- Dik (1989), Pag. 92