How must I say, something is burning or something is burning down? What's the difference? Thanks.?

Answer 1

Usually, the expression "to burn down" is only used with buildings: eg, "The house burned down," or "The hotel is burning down." It means that the building is consumed by fire to the point that nothing (or very little) is there.
To say that "something is burning" is a more general sense: "The log is burning", "The fire is burning", "My shirt is burning".
Someone else mentioned the phrase "burning up". While it also has a similar meaning as "burning down", I don't think they are equivalent; I've never heard anyone say "The house burnt up," for example. I'd say it would be used more to say things like "She burned the paper up." (Or "she burned up the paper.")

Answer 2

Don't forget "burning UP"!
You know what "burning" is, it could be a small flame or a raging inferno. "Burning down" means that something is either in the process of collapsing (falling down) due to the fire or that it is being completely reduced to ashes.

"Burning up" means that something is being completely consumed by fire. So you could say that something burned down or burned up and mean the same thing.

Answer 3

Burning is, well......burning, whereas 'burning down' implies that it has burnt to the point of being a lost cause and putting the fire out will not save it.

Answer 4

burning applies to small things, like food, and furniture. Burning down applies to larger things, like buildings and houses.

Answer 5

well something burning means that something is getting ready to burn down and you just kinda already know it and something is burning down means that the kitchin is on fire run for the hills! meaning something is on fire

Answer 6

ummm..........something is burning out, i don't know