I have a grammar question but I don't know how to answer it.

[Anonymous]

Hello,

Can anybody answer this grammar question for me.

Why can we say 'I'm having a bath but not 'I'm having long hair'.

I can see why it is wrong but I cannot explain why, well I can't find the words to describe what is wrong with it.

I know that 'have' is an irregular verb but how do I explain why the latter part of the statement is wrong?

Thank you in advance.

 

[RonBee]

The expression is I'm taking a bath. Use the present participle to talk about an action that is taking place in the present. Thus, you can say I'm taking a bath but not I'm having long hair. That is because having long hair is not something you do.

Does that help?

 

[Tdol]

I'm taking a bath is a tempororay activity, while long hair doesn't change that fast. If you were going to have extensions added for an evening and then removed, you might say 'I'm having long hair at the party', but this is highly unusual. If you are talking about your natural hair, then we regard it as a permanent state. ;-)