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Sammyb714 Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

(To be) in past continuous

My friend asked me why 'to be' wouldn't be 'was being' in the example:

"Julie was in the garden when Laurence arrived." Wouldn't it be "Julie was being in the garden..."?

I was thinking that maybe it has to do with the verb 'to be' being a state instead of a description of an action like "Julie was working in the garden..." And also, perhaps you only use 'was being' when describing behavior.


Any explanation?/Rule?/Exception?

  

Top answer

"? No, definitely not. 'Be', as a linking verb, is rarely in continuous form.

— Mister Micawber

  • "?
  • No, definitely not.
  • 'Be', as a linking verb, is rarely in continuous form.
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2 Answers
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sammyb714"Julie was in the garden when Laurence arrived." Wouldn't it be "Julie was being in the garden..."?

No, definitely not. 'Be', as a linking verb, is rarely in continuous form.

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sammyb714perhaps you only use 'was being' when describing behavior.

Correct, though not always exactly overt physical behavior.

Julie was being [coy / silly / discreet / rude / careful / cautious / unreasonable / optimistic / truthful / ...].

CJ

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