is/being

[blacknomi]

Hi, teachers


(1) Why are you angry?
(2) Why are you being angry?

I think they are the same. The latter emphasizes more on the continuing state of mood. What do you think? :wink:

[Francois]

(2) Why are you being angry?

This one looks strange, though probably correct. "Why are you getting angry?" is more natural.

FRC

[MikeNewYork]

Hi, teachers


(1) Why are you angry?
(2) Why are you being angry?

I think they are the same. The latter emphasizes more on the continuing state of mood. What do you think? :wink:

I don't think the second works very well with angry. It is because "anger" is an automatic emotion. We can use that structure for behaviors we can control.

Why are you being stubborn?
Why are you being difficult?
Why are you being sarcastic?

[blacknomi]

Hi, teachers


(1) Why are you angry?
(2) Why are you being angry?

I think they are the same. The latter emphasizes more on the continuing state of mood. What do you think? :wink:

I don't think the second works very well with angry. It is because "anger" is an automatic emotion. We can use that structure for behaviors we can control.

Why are you being stubborn?
Why are you being difficult?
Why are you being sarcastic?

Any differences?

He is stubborn.
Why is he stubborn?

He is being stubborn.
Why is he being stubborn?

[Francois]

He is stubborn.
Why is he stubborn?

He is being stubborn.
Why is he being stubborn?

The first one means he's stubborn in general, not just now.
The second one means he's currently being stubborn, probably about something in particular. Eg. if he doesn't want to do something, you could ask "why on earth are you being so stubborn?".
If you ask "why are you so stubborn", you imply that he's stubborn not only now but in other occasions too.

FRC

[blacknomi]

He is stubborn.
Why is he stubborn?

He is being stubborn.
Why is he being stubborn?

The first one means he's stubborn in general, not just now.
The second one means he's currently being stubborn, probably about something in particular. Eg. if he doesn't want to do something, you could ask "why on earth are you being so stubborn?".
If you ask "why are you so stubborn", you imply that he's stubborn not only now but in other occasions too.

FRC

Thank you, FRC. It's very clear now.

[MikeNewYork]

Hi, teachers


(1) Why are you angry?
(2) Why are you being angry?

I think they are the same. The latter emphasizes more on the continuing state of mood. What do you think? :wink:

I don't think the second works very well with angry. It is because "anger" is an automatic emotion. We can use that structure for behaviors we can control.

Why are you being stubborn?
Why are you being difficult?
Why are you being sarcastic?

Any differences?

He is stubborn.
Why is he stubborn?

He is being stubborn.
Why is he being stubborn?

I agree with Francois. In this case, the progressive form suggests behavior out of the ordinary. :wink: