Continuous aspect of the verb vs. meaning of the sentence
I would like to ask for help in understanging differences between sentences:
(a) Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. - Henry David Thoreau
We have here:
A. Present Simple in first part of the sentence;
B. Construction "too [adjective] to [infinitive]"
C. Verb in the continuous aspect "looking for".
Questions here:
1.) Why does the sentence engage the verb in the continuous aspect - "looking for"? I thought that verb "look" is a static verb, so we should avoid using it in continuous aspect.
I understand that here "looking for" means "searching" and it is a process. Nonetheless shouldn't the sentence look like this:
(b) Success usually comes to those who are too busy to look for it.
2.) How do you understand sentences (a) and (b)?
What is the difference between these two sentences?
3.) I also do not understand why there is "be looking for"?
Is it because "too [adjective] to [infinitive]" construction needs infinitive after "to" (so you put this "be" here)?
Can we say (are these sentences correct from the grammatical point of view):
(c) Success usually comes to those who are looking for it.
or
(d) Success usually comes to those who look for it.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
grammar nuance continuous-aspect aspect
asked 10 hours ago
RichardRichard
112
add a comment |
I would like to ask for help in understanging differences between sentences:
(a) Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. - Henry David Thoreau
We have here:
A. Present Simple in first part of the sentence;
B. Construction "too [adjective] to [infinitive]"
C. Verb in the continuous aspect "looking for".
Questions here:
1.) Why does the sentence engage the verb in the continuous aspect - "looking for"? I thought that verb "look" is a static verb, so we should avoid using it in continuous aspect.
I understand that here "looking for" means "searching" and it is a process. Nonetheless shouldn't the sentence look like this:
(b) Success usually comes to those who are too busy to look for it.
2.) How do you understand sentences (a) and (b)?
What is the difference between these two sentences?
3.) I also do not understand why there is "be looking for"?
Is it because "too [adjective] to [infinitive]" construction needs infinitive after "to" (so you put this "be" here)?
Can we say (are these sentences correct from the grammatical point of view):
(c) Success usually comes to those who are looking for it.
or
(d) Success usually comes to those who look for it.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
grammar nuance continuous-aspect aspect
asked 10 hours ago
RichardRichard
112
add a comment |
I would like to ask for help in understanging differences between sentences:
(a) Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. - Henry David Thoreau
We have here:
A. Present Simple in first part of the sentence;
B. Construction "too [adjective] to [infinitive]"
C. Verb in the continuous aspect "looking for".
Questions here:
1.) Why does the sentence engage the verb in the continuous aspect - "looking for"? I thought that verb "look" is a static verb, so we should avoid using it in continuous aspect.
I understand that here "looking for" means "searching" and it is a process. Nonetheless shouldn't the sentence look like this:
(b) Success usually comes to those who are too busy to look for it.
2.) How do you understand sentences (a) and (b)?
What is the difference between these two sentences?
3.) I also do not understand why there is "be looking for"?
Is it because "too [adjective] to [infinitive]" construction needs infinitive after "to" (so you put this "be" here)?
Can we say (are these sentences correct from the grammatical point of view):
(c) Success usually comes to those who are looking for it.
or
(d) Success usually comes to those who look for it.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
grammar nuance continuous-aspect aspect
asked 10 hours ago
RichardRichard
112
I would like to ask for help in understanging differences between sentences:
(a) Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. - Henry David Thoreau
We have here:
A. Present Simple in first part of the sentence;
B. Construction "too [adjective] to [infinitive]"
C. Verb in the continuous aspect "looking for".
Questions here:
1.) Why does the sentence engage the verb in the continuous aspect - "looking for"? I thought that verb "look" is a static verb, so we should avoid using it in continuous aspect.
I understand that here "looking for" means "searching" and it is a process. Nonetheless shouldn't the sentence look like this:
(b) Success usually comes to those who are too busy to look for it.
2.) How do you understand sentences (a) and (b)?
What is the difference between these two sentences?
3.) I also do not understand why there is "be looking for"?
Is it because "too [adjective] to [infinitive]" construction needs infinitive after "to" (so you put this "be" here)?
Can we say (are these sentences correct from the grammatical point of view):
(c) Success usually comes to those who are looking for it.
or
(d) Success usually comes to those who look for it.
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
grammar nuance continuous-aspect aspect
grammar nuance continuous-aspect aspect
asked 10 hours ago
RichardRichard
112
asked 10 hours ago
RichardRichard
112
edited 7 hours ago
Richard
asked 10 hours ago
RichardRichard
112
asked 10 hours ago
RichardRichard
112
asked 10 hours ago
RichardRichard
112
112
add a comment |
add a comment |
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