Growing or extending

Question

Hi everybody,I have difficulty choosing answer in this sentence"Volunteerism is __________ across the United States today......"In this sentence we should fill "growing" or "extending". In my opion I choose "extending" but the answer is "growing".Help me with this. Many thanks to you!Carrie Lan

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Here's the broad idea.

growing - getting larger,

eg this tree is growing slowly.

extending - stretching out.

eg I extended my arm to reach the other side of the able.

But not 'I grew my arm to reach the other side of the table.'

Clive

CalifJim · Answer

extend is rarely used, if at all, in the continuous tenses in that context.

A system of highways extends across the U. S.

You would not say is extending.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Hi, Thanks for your answer but you can make it clearer. Is this right if I consider you choose "extending" in the sentence

"Volunteerism is extending across the United States today"

Thank you a lot.

Lan

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIs this right if I consider you choose "extending" in the sentence
"Volunteerism is extending across the United States today"

It's grammatically correct, but not idiomatic. It doesn't make sense.

CJ

BarbaraPA · Answer

For something to be "extending" it has to start in one place and then grow to include people in more and more places.

The idea of volunteerism already exists everywhere througout the US. It won't extend any further. However, if more and more people are doing it, then it's growing.

MalRey · Answer

"Volunteerism is widespread across the United States today.."

or

"Volunteerism is widespread throughout the United States today.."

Growing or extending

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions