to be + adjective VS. to be being + adjective
—| B1-B2 (intermediate) |—
In Canadian English, these structures are very important because they do not mean the same thing.
TO BE + ADJECTIVE
This describes the personality, physical appearance, identity, or general character of a person
TO BE BEING + ADJECTIVE
This describes a temporary behaviour of a person
EXAMPLES:
“My sister is such a generous and kind person. She is always volunteering her time at homeless shelters and donating to charities. She is also really hospitable; if you need a place to stay, she will offer her home to you without any hesitation.”
“Normally, my brother is quite friendly, but he is being really cold these days. I think something is bothering him. This is not typical behaviour of his.”
“Why are you being so rude today?”
“What do you mean? I’m not being rude!”
“Yeah, you are. Normally, you’re polite, but today you’re being rude to everyone. What’s going on?”
What kind of sentences can you create with these structures? Practice them by leaving a comment below.