teacher looked confused OR was looking confused?

[ere73]

Would you help me, I've been trying to find one error or more in this sentence, thanks.


However,when Mark got to the front of the class, the teacher was looking confused.

[Erin]

We need to change this to:

However,when Mark got to the front of the class, the teacher looked confused.

The reason for this is that so-called 'stative' verbs (be, appear, seem, look, sound, taste, etc.) aren't used in the progressive, only in the simple present tense.

For example, we say "I'm happy," not "I'm being happy," right?

Hope that helps!

Please post further questions here.

[irinka]

Hi, Erin!
I gather you must be bored with me by now, anyway. Do we refer to linking verbs as stative predicators as well? or do they constitute a separate group apart from the ordinary stative predicators, such as wear, think, admire? grateful for your answer! Otherwise, I totally agree with your explanation, we don't say "the cake was smelling fine yesterday at 5p.m.", as smell is a linking verb as well.