use verb tenses and time shifts correctly

Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

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Originally Posted by endy

Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

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Better:

• Many people believe that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by endy

Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

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I agree with Ron, that the non-progressive form is better than the progressive form in that sentence. I don't think, however, that the progressive form is completely wrong in this construction. The progressive form creates the idea that believing is a process, beginning with a little belief and turning into a lot of belief. Another way to say that is "many people are starting to believe". If you change the beginning to "More and more people", then I would actually choose "are believing". This creates the idea that the belief is in the process of growing in the population.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RonBee

Quote:

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Originally Posted by endy

Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

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Better:

• Many people believe that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.

:)

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There are though some verbs that you may not write in "continuous sentence".
:?:

There are some that we don't use in the continuous forms, or only under special circumstances.;-)