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blacknomi

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Apr 21, 2004
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Hi, teachers


(1) Why are you angry?
(2) Why are you being angry?

I think they are the same. The latter emphasizes more on the continuing state of mood. What do you think? :wink:
 
MikeNewYork

MikeNewYork

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blacknomi said:
Hi, teachers


(1) Why are you angry?
(2) Why are you being angry?

I think they are the same. The latter emphasizes more on the continuing state of mood. What do you think? :wink:
Click to expand...

I don't think the second works very well with angry. It is because "anger" is an automatic emotion. We can use that structure for behaviors we can control.

Why are you being stubborn?
Why are you being difficult?
Why are you being sarcastic?
 
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blacknomi

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Member Type
Student or Learner
MikeNewYork said:
blacknomi said:
Hi, teachers


(1) Why are you angry?
(2) Why are you being angry?

I think they are the same. The latter emphasizes more on the continuing state of mood. What do you think? :wink:
Click to expand...

I don't think the second works very well with angry. It is because "anger" is an automatic emotion. We can use that structure for behaviors we can control.

Why are you being stubborn?
Why are you being difficult?
Why are you being sarcastic?
Click to expand...


Any differences?

He is stubborn.
Why is he stubborn?

He is being stubborn.
Why is he being stubborn?

:roll:
 
F

Francois

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2004
He is stubborn.
Why is he stubborn?

He is being stubborn.
Why is he being stubborn?
Click to expand...
The first one means he's stubborn in general, not just now.
The second one means he's currently being stubborn, probably about something in particular. Eg. if he doesn't want to do something, you could ask "why on earth are you being so stubborn?".
If you ask "why are you so stubborn", you imply that he's stubborn not only now but in other occasions too.

FRC
 
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blacknomi

Key Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2004
Member Type
Student or Learner
Francois said:
He is stubborn.
Why is he stubborn?

He is being stubborn.
Why is he being stubborn?
Click to expand...
The first one means he's stubborn in general, not just now.
The second one means he's currently being stubborn, probably about something in particular. Eg. if he doesn't want to do something, you could ask "why on earth are you being so stubborn?".
If you ask "why are you so stubborn", you imply that he's stubborn not only now but in other occasions too.

FRC
Click to expand...

Thank you, FRC. It's very clear now.
:lol:
 
MikeNewYork

MikeNewYork

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Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
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Current Location
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blacknomi said:
MikeNewYork said:
blacknomi said:
Hi, teachers


(1) Why are you angry?
(2) Why are you being angry?

I think they are the same. The latter emphasizes more on the continuing state of mood. What do you think? :wink:
Click to expand...

I don't think the second works very well with angry. It is because "anger" is an automatic emotion. We can use that structure for behaviors we can control.

Why are you being stubborn?
Why are you being difficult?
Why are you being sarcastic?
Click to expand...


Any differences?

He is stubborn.
Why is he stubborn?

He is being stubborn.
Why is he being stubborn?

:roll:
Click to expand...

I agree with Francois. In this case, the progressive form suggests behavior out of the ordinary. :wink:
 
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