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New2grammar Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
wear
If a person walks past you and he smells good. You believe he has cologne on his body and you would like to know whether that's true, do you say:
"Are you wearing cologne?" => To me, this sounds like he is applying cologne when the question is asked. Does it also convey the current state meaning (like: Are you feeling OK?)?
"Did you wear cologne today?" => To me, it focuses on whether he applied it earlier, therefore,it's not relevant to the moment of speaking ("Did you feel OK?" ) . He could have showered it off and wonder why you are asking him that.
I hope you get the meaning. I'm trying to ask something I don't know but without knowing it, I don't know how to phrase the question correctly
The chicken and the egg problem
I believe, maybe, my question is related to stative vs dynamic verbs.
Thanks!
"Are you wearing cologne?" => To me, this sounds like he is applying cologne when the question is asked. Does it also convey the current state meaning (like: Are you feeling OK?)?
"Did you wear cologne today?" => To me, it focuses on whether he applied it earlier, therefore,it's not relevant to the moment of speaking ("Did you feel OK?" ) . He could have showered it off and wonder why you are asking him that.
I hope you get the meaning. I'm trying to ask something I don't know but without knowing it, I don't know how to phrase the question correctly
The chicken and the egg problemI believe, maybe, my question is related to stative vs dynamic verbs.
Thanks!
Top answer
Hi N2G Personally, I would probably preface the whole thing with a statement such as "Mmmmmm! "
- Hi N2G Personally, I would probably preface the whole thing with a statement such as "Mmmmmm!
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2 Answers
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Hi N2G
Personally, I would probably preface the whole thing with a statement such as "Mmmmmm! Something smells awfully good." And then I might simply follow that up with a simple question such as "What is that?" or "Is that your cologne/perfume?"
Personally, I would probably preface the whole thing with a statement such as "Mmmmmm! Something smells awfully good." And then I might simply follow that up with a simple question such as "What is that?" or "Is that your cologne/perfume?"
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"Are you wearing cologne?" => To me, this sounds like he is applying cologne when the question is asked.No. This cannot mean that he is applying cologne. The verb wear doesn't work like that. It refers to the current state, even when phrased in the progressive. It's like "Are you feeling well?" in that respect.
CJ
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