Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Teo]

The box contains a necklace. = A necklace is in the box.

The can holds two gallons. = ... has a capacity ...

..

These verbs (contain, hold matter, ...) also reveal their stative character in the above senses by their unacceptability with the progressive : * The box is containing a necklace, etc

Again, exceptional uses of these as "process" verbs may be found; eg:

How much was the tank containing when you last inspected it?

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The above is quoted from a grammar book.

Can anyone tell me when we can use these verbs like contain as process verbs?
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Thank you very much for your reply.

[wecna]

The example you quoted, "How much was the tank containing", sounds awkward to me. I don't think it's the way a native speaker would say it usually. We would say, "How much did the tank contain." "How much was the tank holding" is a little better.

On the other hand, when talking about a person, you could say, "He was being really difficult about it." This sentence is more active because it actually is describing the person's actions, what he said and the expressions on his face.