What is she saying?

[Rachel Adams]

In one of my books "say" is listed as a verb which isn't used in the progressive. There is an example in "A Practical English Grammar Exercises" by A. J. Thomson and A. V. Martinet:
"Do you understand what the lecturer is saying?"

I used present continuous. Isn't present simple wrong?

 

[5jj]

In one of my books "say" is listed as a verb which isn't used in the progressive.

That is incorrect information. Can you give us the name of the book and author?

"Do you understand what the lecturer is saying?"

I used present continuous. Isn't present simple wrong?

Probably, but it depends on the context.

 

[Rachel Adams]

That is incorrect information. Can you give us the name of the book and author?
Probably, but it depends on the context.

"Longman English Grammar Practice" by L.G. Alexander. It says in their example the correct choice is present simple. But in other examples isn't it usually used?

I am not saying the book is wrong. I am asking about other uses.

 

[jutfrank]

The book does not say anything close to "say is not used in the progressive". The page you posted lists uses of the simple present.

 

[Rachel Adams]

The book does not say anything close to "say is not used in the progressive". The page you posted lists uses of the simple present.

In the example it has only present simple is correct but in the original example isn't present continuous the only correct choice? In "Do you understand what the lecturer is saying?"

 

[jutfrank]

Imagine you're sitting in a lecture next to your friend. Looking slightly perturbed, she turns to you and asks:

Do you understand what the lecturer is saying? :tick:
Do you understand what the lecturer says? :cross: