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Aramahosi Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Why is this the progressive tense?
OK, I grasp that the past tense is to talk about the past action from the point where a speaker is speaking and the present progressive tense is talk about the action going on at the present. And I've found the incomprehensible usage of the present progressive tense in that point of view.
In 0:31of the following cartoon the crook says "Well, hello. Sweet cheeks?" and then Blossom(the red one) says "Who are you calling sweet cheeks?". Although from the point where Blossom talks calling her sweet cheeks by the crrok is obviously the past, she choices the present progressive tense. Why does that kind of thing happen?
In 0:31of the following cartoon the crook says "Well, hello. Sweet cheeks?" and then Blossom(the red one) says "Who are you calling sweet cheeks?". Although from the point where Blossom talks calling her sweet cheeks by the crrok is obviously the past, she choices the present progressive tense. Why does that kind of thing happen?
Top answer
It’s idiomatic. When we take offense at being called a name, we say Who are you calling [disparaging word]? Who did you call sweet cheeks?
- It’s idiomatic.
- When we take offense at being called a name, we say Who are you calling [disparaging word]?
- Who did you call sweet cheeks?
- or Who were you calling sweet cheeks?
- would not be a very natural alternative in this context.
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1 Answers
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It’s idiomatic. When we take offense at being called a name, we say Who are you calling [disparaging word]? Who did you call sweet cheeks? or Who were you calling sweet cheeks? would not be a very natural alternative in this context.
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