Conditional statement

[nat1ve]

Hi,

Which of the below statements is more proper to use, and why?

If I'm listening to music, I can't concentrate at anything else.

If I listen to music, I can't concentrate at anything else.

Present tense vs Present progressive.

Thank you.

 

[GoesStation]

Either one could be correct if they both said on instead of ​at.

 

[nat1ve]

Either one could be correct if they both said to instead of ​at.

Hi GS,

Thank you.

What do you mean by to / at?

It is correct to say listen to / concentrate at.

 

[GoesStation]

You listen to something. If you pay very close attention, you're concentrating on it. You can't concentrate at something.

 

[nat1ve]

You listen to something. If you pay very close attention, you're concentrating on it. You can't concentrate at something.

Thank you GS,

How would you say these sentences correctly then?

 

[emsr2d2]

nat1ve, you've been given the correct prepositions to use with "listen" and with "concentrate" so now you should be able to write the correct version of your original sentences.

 

[Tdol]

Thank you GS,

How would you say these sentences correctly then?

I'd use the following:

If I'm listening to music, I can't concentrate on anything else.

If I listen to music, I can't concentrate on anything else.

I think GoesStation meant to say on in the first answer rather than to.

 

[GoesStation]

I think GoesStation meant to say on in the first answer rather than to.

Thanks for pointing out my egregious error. No wonder the OP was confused.

 

[nat1ve]

Hi Tdol and GS,

Thanks! that makes it clear now!

English is so complicated.

 

[Tdol]

Thanks for pointing out my egregious error. No wonder the OP was confused.

I did that recently when I forgot to type the word not, which rather affected the answer I was trying to give.

 

[Rover_KE]

I fouled up, too, in this thread, when I completely misread the title and question.