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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Present time | 603

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The verb be in the present progressive 

340f

When the copular verb be is used in the present progressive with an adjectival

complement, it refers to the current actions or behaviour of the subject rather

than referring to a quality or attribute of the subject:

I think she 

is being awfully broadminded and tolerant here. 

(she is acting in a broadminded and tolerant way; compare ‘I think she is

broadminded’, which would be an expression of a general opinion about her

character)

Stop it! You

’re being silly.

(‘You’re silly’ would suggest a more general evaluation of the person’s

character)