we hurt ourselves vs we are hurting ourselves

Both "we hurt ourselves" and "we are hurting ourselves" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "We hurt ourselves" is used to describe a general action in the past, while "we are hurting ourselves" is used to describe an ongoing action in the present.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1242 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to describe a general action in the past.

"we hurt ourselves"

This phrase is used to talk about an action that happened in the past and caused harm to oneself.

Examples:

We hurt ourselves by not following the safety guidelines.
When we don't take care of our health, we hurt ourselves.
They hurt themselves by making poor financial decisions.
She hurt herself by not studying for the exam.
The team hurt themselves by not practicing enough.

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We take our happiness for granted until we hurt ourselves or someone else.
Can you please go back to work instead of masterminding these situations wherein we hurt ourselves?
We'd hurt ourselves and the client.
Well, we can't hurt ourselves.
-We could get ourselves hurt, right?
But we have padding, and fantastic shock-absorbing things like Sorbothane - the materials that help us, when we're hit like this, not to hurt ourselves too much.
the materials that help us, when we're hit like this, not to hurt ourselves too much.
There's no sense us taking any chances, letting ourselves get hurt.
We can all choose not to do things that hurt other people and ourselves.
But if we hurt them, maybe we'll be hurting ourselves.
See, guys like us, we hurt people around us.
We hurt each other, Dottie, yes.
If we couldn't control our powers and we hurt someone.
We hurt people when we're sick.
The point was that we thought we hurt each other.
We hurt people's feelings and we perpetuated ugly stereotypes.
No matter how much we hurt them.
Every year, on the anniversary of their imprisonment, we hurt them.
When we hurt someone or possibly even kill them.
Better to stop now before we hurt each other.

Alternatives:

We harmed ourselves
We injured ourselves
We damaged ourselves
We caused harm to ourselves
We inflicted pain on ourselves

This phrase is correct and commonly used to describe an ongoing action in the present.

"we are hurting ourselves"

This phrase is used to talk about an action that is currently happening and causing harm to oneself.

Examples:

We are hurting ourselves by not getting enough rest.
By ignoring the warning signs, we are hurting ourselves.
They are hurting themselves by not seeking help.
She is hurting herself by staying in a toxic relationship.
The company is hurting itself by not adapting to new technologies.

Show examples from the web [+]

But if we hurt them, maybe we'll be hurting ourselves.
How are we supposed to escape from here if we can't even walk through the woods without hurting ourselves?
There we are hurting, all here.
Keep reminding yourself, we are hurting him for a second to heal him for a lifetime.
A lot of us are hurting here.
Not if those secrets are hurting other people.
And someone needs to take a stand because people are hurting.
Two people we love are hurting.
Them Westside boys are hurting over this more than even you.
Trevor, I know that you are hurting.
These things to do with psychophonics and superstitions are hurting her.
Please don't, you are hurting me.
No disrespect, but you guys are hurting everybody.
Then, there are people who are hurting you.
- You are hurting my shoulders.
He's too selfish to know that other people are hurting too.
You left her, and now people are hurting her for information you have.
Honey, if you are hurting yourself, I need to know.
You are hurting me, my dear.
If they are hurting her, We can't let her spend another night there.

Alternatives:

We are causing harm to ourselves
We are damaging ourselves
We are injuring ourselves
We are harming ourselves
We are inflicting pain on ourselves

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we hurt ourselves vs we are hurting ourselves