When subtitles make you wonder about grammar .. again / Why the continious form?
"Now you're really starting to freak me out." was written in the subtitles and it made me wonder.
Why is present continious used here?
I mean when something starts it's just a short instance and doesn't last that long.
I can freak out s.b. for a long time but I can't start to freak out s.b. for a long time, can I???
Why not just simple present?
Thank you in advance!Thank you everyone for your much appreciated help!
As for the overanalysation: it's always difficult for me to learn something that I don't understand.
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Answers · 8
3
Interesting question. I can think of two answers, but I can’t swear that either is correct. 1. “You are really starting to freak me out” is a very common phrase — almost an idiom — so the use of the continuous is just part of the idiom. 2. Often, the expression is used in situations in which the “freakiness” is building over the course of an interaction: at first things seem a little weird, then weirder, and finally things begin to cross that vague line from “a little weird” to “positively freaky.” So, getting “freaked out” is sort of a continuous, evolving process — justifying the use of present continuous.
1
Don't over analyse :) It's a nice chuck of English. Use it. Also, remember, present simple is used for facts, routines > habits - your example is none of those.
1
The expectation is that "freaking out" is a behavior that lasts a while like running or sleeping.
I'm starting to run or I'm staring to sleep. "You are starting to make me nervous" is very similar.
0
Don't over analyse :) It's a nice chuck of English. Use it. Also, remember, present simple is used for facts, routines & habits - your example is none of those.
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