present tense vs present progressive

[keannu]

My grammar books says the difference between "present tense" and "present progressive" is like the following. I think the limit of time to choose either of the two is quite subjective. What do you think is the standard to choose either of them? Depending on your judgment, "Six months" or "two years" can be "is teaching".

1. She is a teacher. She teaches music. - considerable time, permanently
2. This year she is teaching second-graders. - recently, temporarily

[haseli22]

One difference between simple present and present progressive is that for permanent states and conditions we use pimple present and for temporary ones present progressive is used. Consider the following examples:

1) I work for a bank. (=It's my permanent job and my job may continue till retirement.)
2) I'm working for a company. (It's a temporary job and may finish in near future.)

[englishhobby]

And how about "I study/I'm studying at university"? Is it emporary if it's going to take, say, five years? I think this depends on how the person himself views it, right?

[keannu]

Yes, this is what I wanted to have answered. "Permanency" or "temporary" all seem to be subjective or relative, I guess. What do you think?

[Raymott]

Yes, this is what I wanted to have answered. "Permanency" or "temporary" all seem to be subjective or relative, I guess. What do you think?

Yes they are.
The difference could be something as simple as the question asked.
"Where do you work?"; "I work at a bank."
"Where are you working?"; "I'm working at a bank."

[englishhobby]

Yes they are.
The difference could be something as simple as the question asked.
"Where do you work?"; "I work at a bank."
"Where are you working?"; "I'm working at a bank."

So the person whom you ask these questions won't feel offended if you ask him "Where are you working?" which implies that he is not going to work there long? Or "where are you living?" with the same connotation? Should one use the Present Continuous in questions like the ones above ONLY if one already knows that the person whom these questiona are addessed often changes jobs or moves places? Will it be allright to ask your new acquaintance "Where are you working?" or would it sound odd?

[Raymott]

So the person whom you ask these questions won't feel offended if you ask him "Where are you working?" which implies that he is not going to work there long? Or "where are you living?" with the same connotation? Should one use the Present Continuous in questions like the ones above ONLY if one already knows that the person whom these questiona are addessed often changes jobs or moves places? Will it be allright to ask your new acquaintance "Where are you working?" or would it sound odd?

"Where are you working?" would not sound odd to me. But there are other considerations that would determine why the question is phrased this way - so that just pushes the original problem back a step.