[Grammar] I think he was just being nice.

I think he was just being nice.

What is the function of 'being'?

I guess 'just being nice' is adjective phrase, 'just' is adverb modifying 'being nice', 'being' is adverb modifying the adjective 'nice'.

"I think [he was just being nice]".

"Being" is a present participle verb; it heads the verb phrase "just being nice" which is complement of the progressive auxiliary verb "was". The sequence "was just being nice" is a verb phrase functioning as predicate of the embedded subordinate clause "he was just being nice".

"Just" is a focusing adverb modifying the verb phrase "being nice". And "nice" is an adjective functioning as predicative complement of "being".

In my opinion, English grammar is more complicated than the Trigonometry.

rock-onn said:

In my opinion, English grammar is more complicated than [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] trigonometry.

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There's nothing we can do about that, I'm afraid.

PaulMatthews said:

"I think [he was just being nice]".

And "nice" is an adjective functioning as predicative complement of "being".

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It means 'being' is a verb here, right?
And 'was just being nice' is a verb phrase that acts as a adjective. Right?

PaulMatthews said:

"I think [he was just being nice]".

"Being" is a present participle verb; it heads the verb phrase "just being nice"

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It heads the verb phrase. What does it mean? I am trying to understand his explanation.

Thanks.

I think it means 'being nice' is a verb phrase where 'being' is the main verb and 'nice' is the complement.

rock-onn said:

It heads the verb phrase. What does it mean? I am trying to understand his explanation.

Thanks.

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The verb "being" is the head (main) word in the verb phrase "just being nice". The head (main) word of a verb phrase is always the verb. Other items, if any, in the VP are called dependents and comprise objects, modifiers and complements.

I strongly suggest that you obtain an up-to-date grammar book; it will help you get a better grasp of basic grammar such as the structure of sentences and clauses.

I have never bought a grammar book because free grammar sites abound online.

Why does the word, trigonometry, not require capitalization?