How can I say what the guy started to do?
A girl wanted to break up with a guy. How can I say what the guy started to do after she had told him about it? Can I say he started to humiliate her?

Girl:It's over.

Guy:You can't be serious.Because I gave
some random kid a beating?

Girl:And loved it.The only time you're happy
is when you're hurting people.

Guy:Wow. Are you so self-righteous
that you actually believe that?You know, when you moved here,
you were nothing.You'd walk the halls like a ghost.Being with me made you.

Girl:Thank you for making this so much easier.

Question

How can I say what the guy started to do?
A girl wanted to break up with a guy. How can I say what the guy started to do after she had told him about it? Can I say he started to humiliate her?

Girl:It's over.

Guy:You can't be serious.Because I gave
some random kid a beating?

Girl:And loved it.The only time you're happy
is when you're hurting people.

Guy:Wow. Are you so self-righteous
that you actually believe that?You know, when you moved here,
you were nothing.You'd walk the halls like a ghost.Being with me made you.

Girl:Thank you for making this so much easier.

Answer

To answer your question, Iris, yes, you could possibly say 'humiliate'. Or 'belittle'. Or maybe make her feel small?

Answer

Sorry, maybe you want to have the guy intentionally do this so the girl will break up with him? That the guy started this so the girl would look like the one wanting to beak up, and not him? I wold say, keep it the same. Let the reader decide what is really going on with this scene. Still a good exchange between two people.

Answer

As far as the verb "start" Grammar Heaven is way off. His point about "to stop" (and "to quit") is another matter entirely.

Answer

I can't agree with you, Grammar Heaven. Take a look at this answer. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1837_aae/page14.shtml

Answer

Well, there is a slight grammar mistake.

You should say " he started HUMILIATING her" and not "he started TO humiliate her"

Explanation:

START is a verb that is used in two ways

1st way (ex)  =  Sub + start/starts/started + verb + Ing =  She started talking with me.

2nd way (ex) =  Sub + start/starts/started + To + verb  =  She started to talk with me.(common way)

in the 1st way, the sentence means " she started the conversation with me" and the main verb "start" is directly stressing on the word "talk"

in the 2nd way, the sentence means " she started (something) for talking with me" and the main verb is not directly stressing on the word "talk"

This happens exactly with the verb "STOP" also. (you can check it yourself)

Answers · 10

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