kadioguy
Key Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2017
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Taiwan
- Current Location
- Taiwan
[From a TOEIC test]
Mr. Sheltons,
I am sending this e-mail as I have just acquired an office building in Southwark, a commercial district near London. [...]
[Source]
----
Why is the -ing form used? When the sender is writing this e-mail, it hasn't been sent yet. When the receiver gets this e-mail, the sending is over. So what does the -ing form mean?
What do you think of this?
GoesStation:
The present perfect would be logical from the reader's perspective. The writer was thinking from his or her perspective: "I'm writing this email. I'm sending it. You're receiving it."
It's natural as written, even if the choice of tense strains logic a little.
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/are-receiving.240939/post-1262547
Mr. Sheltons,
I am sending this e-mail as I have just acquired an office building in Southwark, a commercial district near London. [...]
[Source]
----
Why is the -ing form used? When the sender is writing this e-mail, it hasn't been sent yet. When the receiver gets this e-mail, the sending is over. So what does the -ing form mean?
What do you think of this?
GoesStation:
The present perfect would be logical from the reader's perspective. The writer was thinking from his or her perspective: "I'm writing this email. I'm sending it. You're receiving it."
It's natural as written, even if the choice of tense strains logic a little.
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/are-receiving.240939/post-1262547