Past progressive vs simple past
Girls, I can't thank you enough for this help. I was acting a bit stubborn.
If the red sentence is changed into I acted a bit stubborn, does any change of meaning or nuance occur? Thanks in advance.
The sentences are quoted from http://mlp.wikia.com/wiki/Transcripts/Applebuck_Season
The scene is at 20:50 of http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17oa41
Top answer
PonyFan Girls, I can't thank you enough for this help. If the red sentence is changed into I acted a bit stubborn, does any change of meaning or nuance occur? There is no change in intent.
- PonyFan Girls, I can't thank you enough for this help.
- If the red sentence is changed into I acted a bit stubborn, does any change of meaning or nuance occur?
- There is no change in intent.
- The continuous emphasizes the activity; that is why it is used here.
- The simple just states the fact.
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PonyFanGirls, I can't thank you enough for this help. I was acting a bit stubborn.If the red sentence is changed into I acted a bit stubborn, does any change of meaning or nuance occur?
There is no change in intent. The continuous emphasizes the activity; that is why it is used here. The simple just states the fact.
0PonyFanI acted a bit stubborn
To my ear this suggests a single act of being a bit stubborn, as if it all happened in a single short block of time.
PonyFanI was acting a bit stubborn.
To my ear this suggests a series of acts of being a bit stubborn, as if it happened over a fairly extended period of time.
CJ
0
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