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  1. #1
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    Default use verb tenses and time shifts correctly

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

  2. #2
    RonBee's Avatar
    RonBee is offline Moderator
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    Default Re: use verb tenses and time shifts correctly

    Quote Originally Posted by endy
    Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.
    Better:
    • Many people believe that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.


    :)

  3. #3
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    Default Re: use verb tenses and time shifts correctly

    Quote Originally Posted by endy
    Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.
    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.

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    Default Re: use verb tenses and time shifts correctly

    Quote Originally Posted by RonBee
    Quote Originally Posted by endy
    Many people are believing that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.
    Better:
    • Many people believe that increased security has led to a loss of freedom.


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

  5. #5
    Tdol is offline Editor, UsingEnglish.com
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    Default

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

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