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Perfect Stranger Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary

Nervous or being nervous

Hi,

Let's say my friend is taking an exam right now or is just about to begin taking it... Should I ask him:

Are you nervous? or Are you being nervous?

Thanks
  

Top answer

The former. Clive

— Clive

  • The former.
  • Clive
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6 Answers
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Use "Are you nervous?" or "Are you feeling nervous?", not "Are you being nervous?".
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Thanks... but why? We often say, for example: I'm being honest right?
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Perfect StrangerThanks... but why? We often say, for example: I'm being honest right?
Yes, but that sort of being is dynamic. You are putting forth effort to be honest. The general rule is that dynamic verbs can take the progressive, but static verbs do not. Certain verbs, like "to be" here, can be one or the other depending on use, and many verbs can take eit
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Hmm. Thank you.

How about this one, would you say:

I'm serious or I'm being serious
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Perfect StrangerHmm. Thank you.How about this one, would you say:I'm serious or I'm being serious
That's the same as "honest".
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