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English_Learner123 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Present Continous tense
Hi,
Why the second sentence out of following is correct ? I'm asking this because currently subject needs help, so we can't use that sentence as regular one.
Why the second sentence out of following is correct ? I'm asking this because currently subject needs help, so we can't use that sentence as regular one.
- He is needing help now.
- He needs help now.
Top answer
I think this may be a case where we just say "because it's idiomatic". In other words, there is no particular grammatical or logical reason why the second sentence seems right and the first doesn't.
- I think this may be a case where we just say "because it's idiomatic".
- In other words, there is no particular grammatical or logical reason why the second sentence seems right and the first doesn't.
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7 Answers
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I think this may be a case where we just say "because it's idiomatic".
In other words, there is no particular grammatical or logical reason why the second sentence seems right and the first doesn't.
In other words, there is no particular grammatical or logical reason why the second sentence seems right and the first doesn't.
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The first is incorrect?
Though it may be heard far less often than the latter, I wouldn't have said it was ungrammatical. Of course I could be wrong, however.
Though it may be heard far less often than the latter, I wouldn't have said it was ungrammatical. Of course I could be wrong, however.
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English 1b3No, it's not actually ungrammatical, just unidiomatic (in most situations).
Though it may be heard far less often than the latter, I wouldn't have said it was ungrammatical. Of course I could be wrong, however.
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I agree.
Be nice to Linda. She just got dumped by her boyfriend and found out her car repair is going to be over a grand. She is needing some TLC right now. -- situations like that might work.
I was surprised to find other "needs" constructions standard that I would have said were not, though.
The lawn needs mowing compared to The lawn needs to be mowed.
Be nice to Linda. She just got dumped by her boyfriend and found out her car repair is going to be over a grand. She is needing some TLC right now. -- situations like that might work.
I was surprised to find other "needs" constructions standard that I would have said were not, though.
The lawn needs mowing compared to The lawn needs to be mowed.
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Grammar Geek
The lawn needs mowing compared to The lawn needs to be mowed.
Your bicycle needs repairing before you can ride it compared to Your bicycle needs to be repaired before you can ride it
I would have said the first in those pairs sounds off, but others have assured me that they are fine. What do you think of th
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Grammar Geek
Be nice to Linda. She just got dumped by her boyfriend and found out her car repair is going to be over a grand. She is needing some TLC right now. -- situations like that might work.
Yup. To me, this is reminiscent of the use of the present continuous in sentences such as "Mmm ... I'm loving that dress", which we don't u
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English_Learner123Why the second sentence out of following is correct ? (???) Do you mean, "Why is the first sentence incorrect"? I'm asking this because currently the subject needs help, so we can't use that sentence as
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