The continuous form of the verb "to be"
I wonder if somebody might have the time to give me their professional opinion on a handout I've prepared for a group of intermediate students.
The question of when you can say "I was being..." came up in a class yesterday. I don't have much teaching experience (I'm doing a CELTA right now) and my answer may not have been as clear as it could have been, so I made this for next time:
Have I covered everything? I think the language and examples will be easily understood by this group, but I don't know if it's an accurate analysis of how the verb is used in this tense.
Re: The continuous form of the verb "to be"
You might want to think about the adjectives:
She was being silly last night.
She was silly last night.
Both sentences are possible and both describe her behaviour. I'd use the progressive in examples like this:
Don't take what she said seriously; she was just being silly.
Here, I don't think 'was silly' would fit in- it's describing the frivolity of her behaviour rather than judging her negatively. ;-)
Re: The continuous form of the verb "to be"
Thank you very much. I'll amend it.
Re: The continuous form of the verb "to be"
You might not need to amend it, but you should be ready for it as a question from the class.
BTW, I would maybe try to divide the sheet a bit more clearly with sub-headings, but I am not sure what guidelines they give on the CELTA.
Re: The continuous form of the verb "to be"
Re: The continuous form of the verb "to be"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
boothling 
I wonder if somebody might have the time to give me their professional opinion on a handout I've prepared for a group of intermediate students.
The question of when you can say "I was being..." came up in a class yesterday. I don't have much teaching experience (I'm doing a CELTA right now) and my answer may not have been as clear as it could have been, so I made
this for next time:
Have I covered everything? I think the language and examples will be easily understood by this group, but I don't know if it's an accurate analysis of how the verb is used in this tense.
As a stative verb BE is usually used in the simple tense. When BE is used in the continuous tense it is made dynamic to refer to a temporary situation usually negative:
You are being naughty.
Depending on the rule above BE should not be overused in the continuous.
