Getting fat/ get fat

Question

A:I'm going on a diet.B:Oh?A:See? This shirt is too tight. I am getting fat.Why do we have to use progressive present tense?Can I use "get fat"? My reason is:I am fat. (simple present) -&gt; I get fat. (simple present)Other examples, I am old. -&gt; I get old.I am bald. -&gt; I get bald. Thank you.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

azargrammaWhy do we have to use progressive present tense?

Because the progressive indicates that the process is going on as you speak.

I'm getting fat ~ Some time ago I was just a little fat, then a little fatter, then a little fatter, and it looks like I'll be fatter tomorrow, and even fatter the next day, ..., and so on.
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The past simple indicates that the process occurs regularly on multiple occasions.

I get fat if I eat too much chocolate. ~ I have observed that on those occasions when I eat chocolate, I become fat. If I stop eating chocolate, I become less fat. Then when I start eating chocolate again, I get fat again. And so on.

CalifJim · Answer

azargrammaI am fat. (simple present) -> I get fat. (simple present)

I explained "get fat" in my previous post.

I am fat is a description of how you look now. I get fat indicates a regularly recurring process.

azargrammaI am old. -> I get old.I am bald. -> I get bald.

I am old and I am bald are fine because they describe you as you are now.

I get old and I get bald don't make sense because they are not regularly recurring processes. You don't get old, then get young so that you can get old again, for example.

CJ

Getting fat/ get fat

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