A difference between the meaning of two sentences

[Shamsiyan]

It appeares that there is little difference in meaning between the following sentences. Could you please explain more about it?

What's the matter with bill? He looks awful.

What's the matter with bill? He is looking awful.

 

[Chicken Sandwich]

A more meaningful thread title such as

"looks awful" vs. "is looking awful"
or
present simple vs. present continous

will probably encourage more people to respond.

To go back to your question: what do you think is the difference?

 

[tzfujimino]

Hello, Shamsiyan.:-D
For your information: Present Continuous - EnglishTenses.com

How about studying when the continuous form is used?:-D

 

[Shamsiyan]

you are right.

 

[tzfujimino]

Yes, you are right.

And I've found this for you: The present continuous with LOOK GOOD. - WordReference Forums
Good luck!:-D

 

[Shamsiyan]

Thank you for your help.

 

[tzfujimino]

Thank you for your help.

No problem.
However, Shamsiyan, just one click on the Like button in each post is enough to express your appreciation.:-D

 

[Webserf]

I'm new to the forum, and so I will stick to just my impression:

"He is Looking awful".
This version could/would suggest a comment that would/could have come shortly after a visit to Bill.
Example: a discussion via telephonic that conveys one's impression to someone else of/about Bill's condition.

Although yes, it's possible to use that syntax "in the moment", it's not as clear as...

..."He looks awful". This version suggests a remark made on scene, "in the moment" of being there, making an immediate assessment of Bill's condition.

They are interchangeable but I believe the "looking" version ever-so-slightly suggests after-the-fact.
IMJO!
...webserf

 

[billmcd]

It appeares that there is little difference in meaning between the following sentences. Could you please explain more about it?

What's the matter with bill? He looks awful. Depending on the situation/context it could be an observation at the moment of speaking even in present simple ( Look at Bill, he looks awful) OR could be a statement made sometime after the observation. (Have you seen Bill lately? He looks awful.)
What's the matter with bill? He is looking awful. Same as above.

billmcd and I feel fine.

 

[5jj]

They are interchangeable but I believe the "looking" version ever-so-slightly suggests after-the-fact.

Both the simple and progressive forms can be used while looking at Bill or a in a later report of seeing him. I see no evidence to support the idea you suggest.

 

[tzfujimino]

Both the simple and progressive forms can be used while looking at Bill or a in a later report of seeing him. I see no evidence to support the idea you suggest.

Hello, 5jj.:-D
May I ask what's your idea about the continuous form?
Would you think it has something to do with the 'limited duration'?

 

[5jj]

Hello, 5jj.:-D
May I ask what's your idea about the continuous form?
Would you think it has something to do with the 'limited duration'?

It has indeed. However, as 'look' in this sense very often has, in itself, the idea of limited duration, I don't see much difference in meaning between the two forms. Perhaps the 'limited duration' might be more apparent here, when a young man arrives at his girlfriend's house:

YMarling, you look stunning!
GF: Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself.

YM: Darling, you're looking stunning!
GF: You mean I don't usually?

However, I find it difficult to come up with examples that convincingly show a real difference.

 

[emsr2d2]

Going back to the example of reporting on someone's appearance via a telephone call following a visit, the following are all possible:

- I've just been to see Bill. He looks awful.
- I've just been to see Bill. He's looking awful.
- I've just been to see Bill. He looked awful.
- I've just been to see Bill. He was looking awful.