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Poppyman Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Be+being+adjective?

Greetings everybody!

When should I use "being" with adjectives? For example, I want to express that I'm scared right now - could I say I'm being scared instead of I'm scared? Or I'm being cold instead of I'm cold? If not, why?

Thank you so much in advance!
  

Top answer

poppyman When should I use "being" with adjectives? Good question! We used this structure when we are saying to the person who has just done something "not so flattering".

— Dimsumexpress

  • poppyman When should I use "being" with adjectives?
  • Good question!
  • We used this structure when we are saying to the person who has just done something "not so flattering".
  • You can even use this form with a noun.
  • e.
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21 Answers
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poppymanWhen should I use "being" with adjectives?
Good question! We used this structure when we are saying to the person who has just done something "not so flattering". You can even use this form with a noun.

i.e.

You are at a restaurant with John. He is untwisting the cap of the salt and pepper shaker. You can tell him "John, you are being
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Hi.

The answer to your question is negative, you cannot make such sentences.

Being can be used in continuous passive tenses.

Ex. He is washing the car now.(active)

The car is being washed now. (Passive)

Ex. His mother is telling him the problem now. (active)

He is being told the problem now. (Passive)

I hope it helps
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hrsaneiHi.
The answer to your question is negative, you cannot make such sentences.
Being can be used in continuous passive tenses.

Ex. He is washing the car now.(active)
The car is being washed now. (Passive)

Ex. His mother is telling him the problem now. (active)
He is being told the problem now. (Passive)


I hope it helps
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Thank you! But the only problem is that I'm not quite sure what "untwisting the cap of the salt" means. Could you explain that to me, please?
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Ahh, I guess I failed to explan. In the early days there were such places in the US called diners which later evolved into national chains of coffee shops, or family restaurants. On each table, there were salt and pepper shaker, and sugar jar with twist-on cap. A lot of young planksters would untwist the caps to their "twisted" enjoyment to see someone shaking the entire shaker of salt on their fo
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However, as a general rule, "being" doesn't work with adjectives that you replace with "feeling."

I am cold.

I'm feeling cold right now. -- Maybe

I'm being cold right now. -- No

I am lonely.

I'm feeling lonely right now. -- Yes

I'm being lonely right now. -- No

Other times (you are being a jerk, why are you being so mean) "being" can
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Great points!

Along the line of "being cold", I think some one is being cold is possible, if the context is such that a nice guy keeps asking a girl out several times and she kept ignoring him. Her friend may ask her " why are you being so "cold" to him?".
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Oh, I got you! Thanks a lot!
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Hi.

This form of structure is not just used for disapproving djectives.

As Grammar Geek said, it is used for something that is unusual.

Ex. You are being very kind now. What do you want?

Regards
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Disapproving adjectives"? That is something new for me.

hrsaneiThis form of structure is not just used for disapproving djectives.
hrsanei"As Grammar Geek said, it is used for something that is unusual.
Did I miss something. GG said:

Other times (you are being
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