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Snappy Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

"Resemble" can't be used in progressive form?

According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, "resemble" is a transitive verb and cannot used in progressive or passive form.

Is the following sentence wrong?
"John is gradually resembling his father."

Should I say, "John is gradually becoming more like his father" instead?
  

Top answer

Snappy Is the following sentence wrong? " Not really wrong. A bit strange maybe.

— CalifJim

  • Snappy Is the following sentence wrong?
  • " Not really wrong.
  • A bit strange maybe.
  • The fact is that even the so-called "non-progressive" verbs will be seen in a progressive tense from time to time, especially when a change is indicated.
  • In this case the resemblance of John to his father is changing.
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3 Answers
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SnappyIs the following sentence wrong?
"John is gradually resembling his father."
Not really wrong. A bit strange maybe. The fact is that even the so-called "non-progressive" verbs will be seen in a progressive tense from time to time, especially when a change is indicated. In this case the resemblance of John to his father is changing. So you'll
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[/quote]Not really wrong. A bit strange maybe. The fact is that even the so-called "non-progressive" verbs will be seen in a progressive tense from time to time, especially when a change is indicated. In this case the resemblance of John to his father is changing. So you'll occasionally see the progressive with expressions like "more and more", even with non-progressive verbs.

[/quot
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SnappyDo you mean the following sentence is correct?

"He is resembling his father more and more as the years go by."
Yes. I mean that it is correct. At least I wouldn't have any objections to it. The same sentence with the simple tense is also fine, of course: He resembles his father more and ....

CJ
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