-
Present simple/present continuous
Hello!
In the following cases, I don't know which to choose: the Present simple or the present continuous. Can you help me?
-(In an email) I attach/am attaching two files.
-(In an email) I send /am sending you my confirmation.
-Do you turn the tap off when you clean/are cleaning your teeth?
-His level is too low. He slows /is slowing down the rest of the group.
Thank you
W
-
Re: Present simple/present continuous
1. 'I (hereby) attach...' is a formal set expression; ''I am attaching" is informal.
2. I am sending... (even formally, the present simple is not used here)
3. & 4: both possible, since the action in question may reasonably be viewed from either a general (simple) or an ongoing (progressive) standpoint. Probably, however, a natural tendency toward verbal concord would make 'clean' slightly more idiomatic that 'are cleaning' in (3).
-
Re: Present simple/present continuous
I use "I have attached", "please find attached <document name>" and "please find <document name> attached."
- I am sending you ...
- Do you turn the tap off when you brush your teeth?
- Do you turn the tap off when brushing your teeth?
The last one, "He slows/is slowing down", I wouldn't use
personally, and should be rephrased, say, maybe, his work (habits) is (are) slowing down the groups' progress, which places emphasis on work rather than on the person.
-
Re: Present simple/present continuous
hi,
Please note I'm not a teacher nor a native speaker;
another alternative for the last one :
He's not at the expected level of performance and that affects the team.
Cheers
Similar Threads
-
By lapetitebiquette in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 4
Last Post: 29-Mar-2010, 00:54
-
By uktous in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 10
Last Post: 29-Nov-2009, 11:50
-
By Kashma in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 5
Last Post: 02-Dec-2008, 02:24
-
By J_Caesar in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 11
Last Post: 11-Jul-2008, 06:21
-
By Lenka in forum Ask a Teacher
Replies: 1
Last Post: 20-Aug-2007, 13:09
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules

Search Engine Optimization by
vBSEO 3.6.1