Murof  +  136791 Tue, 13 Sep 05 12:28 AM I read the following sentence, but don't understand why I cannot just use present tense instead. Is it because that "increasingly" have some meanings represent progressive tense?  Thanks!   Because uranium is the heaviest, and therfore the most penetrating, of natural metals, it is being increasingly used in the production of bullets. Murof Joined on Sun, Sep 11 2005 New Member 16 Present Progressive, Tenses, Present Tenses

	Clive  +  136795 Tue, 13 Sep 05 12:49 AM Hi, Yes, you're right. 'Increasingly' stresses progression, and so does the tense here, so together they make a strong emphasis. Best wishes, Clive       Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,582 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Present Progressive, Tenses

	Murof  +  136812 Tue, 13 Sep 05 01:36 AM Thanks, Clive! So is there any other word that may have such 'progressive' meaning, as "increasingly" here? -M Murof Present Progressive

	Clive  +  136826 Tue, 13 Sep 05 02:13 AM Hi, How about 'continuously'? Best wishes again, Clive Clive

	CalifJim  +  136828 Tue, 13 Sep 05 02:15 AM I ... don't understand why I cannot just use present tense instead "... it is used increasingly in the production of bullets." I don't understand it either.  Who is telling you that you cannot use present tense? CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,385 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Present Progressive, Tenses, Present Tenses

	MrPedantic  +  136829 Tue, 13 Sep 05 02:17 AM "Progressively"? MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris...

	Murof  +  136875 Tue, 13 Sep 05 05:55 AM Oh, i see, we can use present tense, actually! So if say "... it is used increasingly in the production of bullets",  the meaning of it is a bit changed from the original one, right?    It now represents a fact instead of a "trend", "procedure"... isn't it? -M Murof Present Progressive, Tenses, Present Tenses

	MrPedantic  +  136888 Tue, 13 Sep 05 07:56 AM Hello Murof The present passive is fine here, and would probably be preferred in a newspaper article or dissertation. The present passive progressive does give a little extra sense of "nowness"; but as Clive has said, the "increasingly" already contributes to the impression of "a process happening now". MrP MrPedantic Articles, Present Progressive

	CalifJim  +  136893 Tue, 13 Sep 05 08:10 AM Murof, Yes, you can actually use present tense.  Yes, the meaning is a bit changed, but the difference is minimal.  I have a tendency to explain such differences in impressionistic terms, so I'll just say that, to my ear, "is used" (in the given context) is a more remote and aloof formulation, cooler and, as you say, more factual, while "is being used" is a more immediate and involving formulation, warmer and more inviting. In the vaguest, most fanciful way, the simple present informs, and the present progressive seduces! CJ CalifJim Simple Present, Present Progressive, Tenses, Present Tenses