Describing Situations and Temporary States

[learning54]

Describing Situations and Temporary States
Use the following adjectives to describe how people or things are now or recently.
Note: Usually they describe personality, but with certain time markers ike "today," "this week," or "right now,", they describe temporary states.

tidy – messy / active – lazy / noisy – quiet / clean – dirty

Thanks.

 

[jutfrank]

This is a discussion thread. What exactly do you want to discuss?

 

[emsr2d2]

This is a discussion thread. What exactly do you want to discuss?

To be fair to the OP, I moved it here from Ask A Teacher because there was no question and the OP is an English teacher. I couldn't think of anywhere better for it at the time.

 

[learning54]

Sorry. I just understood that it is more about the adjective and the tense than the time marker., Time markers have nothing to do about describing a situation.

For example, if someone is tidy that is a trait. I could say their personality has changed recently, and that would be odd.
He is normally tidy, but recently he has become very messy. I am worried about him.
But 'he is tidy' means he is a tidy person. A personality trait.

 

[emsr2d2]

Sorry. I just understood that it is more about the adjective and the tense than the time marker. no comma here Time markers have nothing to do about with describing a situation.

Note my changes above.

For example, if someone is tidy that, is a trait.

I suppose tidiness could be described as a personality trait.

I could say their personality has changed recently, and that would be odd.

Why would it be odd?

He is normally tidy, but recently he has become very messy. I am worried about him.

There's nothing wrong with the first sentence.

But However, 'He is tidy' means he is a tidy person. That's a personality trait.

I don't see why you can't say that a personality trait has changed, especially when you include "recently". People who are generally kind can become horrible, for example in times of severe stress or tiredness.

Please avoid starting sentences with "but" on the forum. We discourage learners from doing so because they frequently don't use it at the start of sentences correctly.

 

[learning54]

Note my changes above.

Right. My mistake.

I suppose tidiness could be described as a personality trait.

Tidiness yes. However, been tidy could be described as a personality trait? I don't think so.

Why would it be odd?

I think it isn't that simple to change personality unless people have been for significant time under psychotropic drugs. What I believe people actually do is change their behaviour in emotional circumstances. That is just my opinion.

There's nothing wrong with the first sentence.

Thanks.

I don't see why you can't say that a personality trait has changed, especially when you include "recently". People who are generally kind can become horrible, for example in times of severe stress or tiredness.

I think what people change is their behaviour.

Please avoid starting sentences with "but" on the forum. We discourage learners from doing so because they frequently don't use it at the start of sentences correctly.

I'll try to do it as you say, and thanks for all the corrections.

 

[jutfrank]

Is there a question here? Have we answered it?

 

[learning54]

Is there a question here? Have we answered it?

Yes. You have answered it and I have found out that time markers have nothing to do with describing how people or things are. Tenses do.