I am loving it.

[alejandrobarts]

Hello! I would like to know whether the sentence "I am loving it" is correct since a state verb cannot be used in continuous sentence? Thanks!

 

[Matthew Wai]

Re: State Verb in Continuous Tenses

https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/...correct-or-not?p=959999&viewfull=1#post959999

 

[Rover_KE]

Please note that I have changed your thread title.

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:


'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Hello! I would like to know whether the sentence "I am loving it" is correct since, a state verb (What is a state verb?) cannot be used in a continuous sentence? Thanks!

Yes, it's correct.

 

[Matthew Wai]

(What is a state verb?)

The OP means a stative verb.

'Stative verbs (for example be, seem, understand, like, own) are not usually used in the progressive tenses.'──quoted from http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/stative?q=stative

 

[Rover_KE]

alejandrobarts, please note that your statement 'a state verb cannot be used in continuous sentence' is incorrect. As Matthew's dictionary link states:

'Stative verbs (for example be, seem, understand, like, own) are not usually used in the progressive tenses.'

 

[alejandrobarts]

Thanks a lot! I am sorry I was wrong. So it means that stative verbs can be used but not usually.

 

[Tdol]

As it is uncommon to use them in this form, then there should be a good reason to do so- everyone remembers McDonalds' catchphrase, which is presumably why they used it in their adverts. You hear it once and it sticks in your memory.

 

[Matthew Wai]

What would you say about the teacher who said 'I'm loving it' was wrong at 1:45 in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFdXIenda98?

 

[Skrej]

Perhaps it's one of those cases where a generalization is sometimes over-applied as an absolute rule.

Also, sometimes teachers make the decision that based on the level of their students, it's easier to pass something off as an absolute rule, than to potentially confuse students with all the nuances of when it's okay to break the 'rule'. Of course, if you do that, then you need to come back and explain exceptions at a later date.

I can't say if that's her approach, or she honestly isn't aware that there are exceptions. She does address the McDonalds' slogan at about 1:51, passing it off as "creative license".

Note that one commenter who claims to be a teacher states that he disagrees with her information. There are many other commenters asking about exceptions as well, and she doesn't respond to those questions in the comments.

 

[jutfrank]

She doesn't seem to know particularly well what she's talking about. Furthermore, she's not a great teacher in my judgement. To say, in reference to the McDonald's slogan "This is actually wrong" is actually wrong.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

What would you say about the teacher who said 'I'm loving it' was wrong at 1:45 in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFdXIenda98?

I'd say this is a perfect example of why people shouldn't rely on online "facts." It's surprising to see a native English-speaking person who thinks there's something wrong with it. It's fine:

- I'm enjoying summer camp. In fact, I'm loving it. You'd love it, too.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Perhaps it's one of those cases where a generalization is sometimes over-applied as an absolute rule. . . .

There is no absolute rule.

 

[Tdol]

I would say that she has no deep understanding of the grammar of English tenses. She has taken the guidelines in many coursebooks and student grammars as absolute laws.

And may not have seen many adverts for burgers.

 

[jutfrank]

Feeling masochistic, I watched the whole five minutes and thirty-eight seconds of that.

Me too. What's more, I watched her video TALK, SPEAK, TELL - What's the difference?, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wBBVXGZfz4

I learned that "'Talk' and 'speak' can be used 100% interchangeably", among other things.

 

[GoesStation]

I learned that "'Talk' and 'speak' can be used 100% interchangeably", among other things.

For the benefit of learners, I'll point out that the statement Jutfrank quoted is not true. JF quoted it as an example of the misinformation found in the linked video.

 

[Skrej]

I learned that "'Talk' and 'speak' can be used 100% interchangeably", among other things.

Well, just think what you stand to learn in her video "Sex with Ronnie". ;-)

 

[jutfrank]

Well, just think what you stand to learn in her video "Sex with Ronnie". ;-)

I was thinking of giving that one a miss. ;-)

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

So is Ronnie!

 

[jutfrank]

I was thinking of giving that one a miss. ;-)

Damn you, Skrej! You made me do it!