Annoyance, Tentativeness, and Changing States
Advanced uses include:
ā¢ Polite Hedging: "I was wondering" (Past Cont.) is common, but "I am hoping/wondering" also softens a request.
ā¢ Habitual Annoyance or Surprise: Using "always," "constantly," or "forever" to express subjective irritation rather than objective frequency. ("He's always borrowing my pen.")
ā¢ Emphasis on "Temporary": Contrasting fixed states with temporary ones for effect. ("I'm being serious" vs "I am serious.")
ā¢ Describing Trends: Situations in flux. ("Housing prices are rocketing.")