http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3615.39139)http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/2/zngwq/Post.htm#483608Mon, 25 May 2009 02:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483608Yankee0http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/2/zngwq/Post.htm#483608http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483608.xmlHi Teo IF the verb &#39;contain&#39; is used in the progressive, it will have a meaning similar to &quot;(actively) control to keep from spreading&quot;. Without any further context, your sentence sounds odd. However, I suppose the situation might be that the tank&#39;s main function was to prevent or control the spread of something dangerous. Inspections might be necessary in order to ascertain how well the tank is functioning.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/2/zngwq/Post.htm#483497Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483497Teo1http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/2/zngwq/Post.htm#483497http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483497.xmlThe 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 &quot;process&quot; verbs may be found; eg: How much was the tank containing when you last inspected it? __ The above is quoted from a grammar book. Can anyone tell me when we can use these verbs like contain as process verbs?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483488Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483488Avangi2http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483488http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483488.xmlThanks, Jim. I can&#39;t believe I haven&#39;t thought about this subject. (Too much of a native.)http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483472Mon, 25 May 2009 02:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483472CalifJim3http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483472http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483472.xmlI&#39;m glad you found the list, but as to your question &quot;Must there be movement?&quot;, in general yes, there must be movement for there to be an &quot;action&quot; or &quot;event&quot;. Nevertheless, it sometimes gets tricky. There are a few cases where a verb is used in the progressive tenses even though there is no movement. ( He is wearing a red tie. He has been living here for years. They are staying at this hotel. ) CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483415Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483415Avangi4http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483415http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483415.xmlasking is not a state; it&#39;s an action. Containment is a state. Thanks, CJ. How about &quot;holding&quot;? i.e., must there be movement? Is, &quot;The workers were able to contain the forest fire&quot; a different sense of &#39;&#39; to contain&quot;? - A. Edit. Okay, I give. I just found the list of 50 &quot;common non-progressive verbs.&quot;http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483413Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483413CalifJim5http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483413http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483413.xmlasking is not a state; it&#39;s an action. Containment is a state. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483412Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483412Avangi6http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483412http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483412.xmlRegarding the sale price of a house, &quot;How much was she asking yesterday?&quot; How do we describe the difference here which allows this question? It seems like the price would be subject to the same variations as the level of the tank.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483398Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483398Marius Hancu7http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483398http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483398.xmlWe&#39;re talking about the STATE of an object, which is by definition a pretty stationary/stable notion. Don&#39;t use progressives in such cases.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483393Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483393CalifJim8http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483393http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483393.xmlWhy use the past progressive tense? The writer didn&#39;t know better. It&#39;s a mistake. Can we say How much did the tank contain when you last inspected it? Yes. It&#39;s infinitely preferable. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483376Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483376Susankay9http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htm#483376http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483376.xmlWe could have fun flipping tenses around all night!! Your sentence could be also worded as: How much was the tank holding when you last inspected it? During the time of the inspection, how much was being held in the tank?http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htmWed, 25 Feb 2009 03:28:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:483360Teo10http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowTankContaining/zngwq/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-483360.xmlHow much was the tank containing when you last inspected it? What does contain mean in the above sentence? Why use the past progressive tense? Can we say How much did the tank contain when you last inspected it?