0
Danil Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

I am serious & I am being serious

Hello to everyone, dear community of forum! Could you explain me please, in which cases we should use "being". I didn't find any intelligible explanation of it.
What is the difference between

1) I am serious.
2) I am being serious.

I know that being = be + ing, but it itsn't clear for me whatever.

Kind regards.
  

Top answer

"Being" is not used when the adjective describes a current static state, eg. " The state can be temporary. I am cold.

— AlpheccaStars

  • "Being" is not used when the adjective describes a current static state, eg.
  • " The state can be temporary.
  • I am cold.
  • (I feel cold) XX I am being cold.
  • I am serious.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
"Being" is not used when the adjective describes a current static state, eg. "feeling." The state can be temporary.

I am cold. (I feel cold)
XX I am being cold.

I am serious. (I am not joking.)
XX I am being serious.

Being can be used when it is a temporary, dynamic con
0
0
AlpheccaStarsI am serious. (I am not joking.)XX I am being serious
I am being serious is possible in British English. There are a few dozen citations for BE being serious in COCA, suggesting that quite a few Americans think it's acceptable.

I am not joking - I am being serious.
0
0
fivejedjonI am being serious is possible in British English.
5JJ; I was trying to make a black and white distinction for the poster's clarity. The boundary is sometimes gray, though, depending on personal speech patterns.
They would be completely correct saying "I am serious."
0
0
Fine. It's just that, personally, I don't like to see something marked as incorrect when it is natural and correct in some contexts.
0
0
Thank you, very much, 5JJ and Alphecca Starr!
0
0
DanilWhat is the difference between 1) I am serious.2) I am being serious.
This is a case of "trait" versus "state".

1) All the time. That is just one of my personality traits. I am serious by nature.
2) In the current situation. I am in the state of being serious right now. I am taking the current situation seriously.

(
0
0
Big big thanks, CJ!!!+++
0

Related Questions