Present Continuous vs Present Simple (talking about a summer course)

Status
Not open for further replies.

angelene001

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
The situation is as follows:
I'm on a summer course, somewhere abroad. I'm writing a letter to my friend:
"I'm on a summer course. I'm living in a rented flat. I'm sharing a room with other student"

Is using Present Simple in such a context a mistake?
"I'm on a summer course. I live in a rented flat. I share a room with other student"
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
The situation is as follows:
I'm on a summer course, somewhere abroad. I'm writing a letter to my friend:
"I'm on a summer course. I'm living in a rented flat. I'm sharing a room with other student"

Is using Present Simple in such a context a mistake?
"I'm on a summer course. I live in a rented flat. I share a room with another student"

It's very stilted.
 

angelene001

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
Can you explain it?
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
The present continous suggests some form of limited duration, which is appropriate for your sentence.
 

angelene001

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2012
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
The present continous suggests some form of limited duration, which is appropriate for your sentence.

But what about using Present Simple in such a situation? Is it a grammatical error?
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
But what about using Present Simple in such a situation? Is it a grammatical error?
It's not a grammatical error as such. However, as it conveys more of a permanent idea than the present continuous, it is not what most native speakers would use when speaking of their temporary residence during a summer course.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top