intransitive verb and present continuous...

Hi!

I wonder the relation of intransitive verb and present continuous, especially when the subject is things, not humanbeings.
Is the sentence below correct?

The gloves are lying on the floor.

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And the other day, I posted another questions but I think I forgot putting the username and subject... so I guess it's not answered here.

Two questions I asked yesterday are the followings:

1. "be" and "become" -- Is there any difference, when a children talks about his future dream.

I want to be a soccer player.
I want to become a soccer player.


2. No, not at all / No, go ahead.

When someone asks, "Do you mind if I close the door?", what differences are there between the two responses above?


As alwyas, thank you for your help & have a great day! ^^

[Francois]

The gloves are lying on the floor.

Fine.

I want to be a soccer player.
I want to become a soccer player

The first one sounds more natural to me, but they're both correct. To become conveys the idea of change, which is less likely to be used by a child.

No, not at all / No, go ahead

Same meaning.

FRC

[MikeNewYork]

Originally Posted by pb

Hi!

I wonder the relation of intransitive verb and present continuous, especially when the subject is things, not humanbeings.
Is the sentence below correct?

The gloves are lying on the floor.

Intransitive verbs are verbs that do not take a direct object. The present continuous is a verb condtrusction using a form of "to be" + a present participle. The two are independent of each other.

Your example uses an intransitive verb in the present continuous/progressive.

An example of a transitive verb in present continuous is:

The carpet is covering a defect in the floor.

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And the other day, I posted another questions but I think I forgot putting the username and subject... so I guess it's not answered here.

Two questions I asked yesterday are the followings:

1. "be" and "become" -- Is there any difference, when a children talks about his future dream.

I want to be a soccer player.
I want to become a soccer player.

The verb "become" focuses on a process or a change, while "be" is more about a state of being, a result. The general sense is the same here, however.

2. No, not at all / No, go ahead.

When someone asks, "Do you mind if I close the door?", what differences are there between the two responses above?


As alwyas, thank you for your help & have a great day! ^^

Both are good. Notice however, that "no not at all" answers "do you mind" only. "No, go ahead" answers "do you mind" and gives permission to "close the door".