If you find it difficult/if you are finding it difficult

[NAL123]

1) If you find it difficult to understand the paragraphs, read them over and over till the point they are completely clear to you.

2) If you're finding it difficult to understand the paragraphs, read them over and over till the point they are completely clear to you.

Are they both correct? Any difference? Is "till the point" synonymous with "till the time" or "until"?

 

[teechar]

Who wrote those sentences, and who are they meant for?

 

[NAL123]

Who wrote those sentences, and who are they meant for?

A teacher said those to their students.

 

[Tarheel]

Two things. One, replace "till the point [that]" with "until". Two, write sentences your students can understand the first time they read them.

 

[teechar]

Also, it's hardly great advice to tell students to read something repeatedly until they understand it!

 

[Tarheel]

The understanding might never come. Understanding something depends on what you know, but it also depends on the writing itself. Sometimes you read something and it doesn't make sense to you because it doesn't make sense.

 

[NAL123]

but it also depends on the writing itself. Sometimes you read something and it doesn't make sense to you because it doesn't make sense.

I don't think to know the grammatical difference between "if you find" and "if you are finding", we need to know what the "paragraphs" (see the OP) are about, what is written in them or whether what is written in them makes any sense or not. I think this should be left to the teacher and their students. Or is my understanding wrong here?

 

[Tarheel]

You are right. We have strayed from the original topic.

 

[5jj]

1) If you find it difficult to understand the paragraphs, read them over and over till the point they are completely clear to you.

2) If you're finding it difficult to understand the paragraphs, read them over and over till the point they are completely clear to you.

Are they both correct?

Yes.

Is there aAny difference?

Yes. The progressive aspect implies that the difficulty encountered may be of limited duration.

Is "till the point" synonymous with "till the time" or "until"?

Yes, but you don't need 'the point' or 'the time'.

 

[NAL123]

Yes. The progressive aspect implies that the difficulty encountered may be of limited duration.

Consider these sentences please:

3) He finds it difficult to understand my handwriting.

4) If he finds it difficult to understand my handwriting, then...

I think (3) indicates "he often finds it difficult". Am I right?

What if I add the word "if", as in (4)? Would it still indicate frequency?

 

[Tarheel]

3) He finds it difficult to understand my handwriting.

He has a hard time understanding your handwriting. It's hard for him to figure it out. That's what it says.

 

[jutfrank]

I think (3) indicates "he often finds it difficult". Am I right?

No. It could mean that, but not necessarily. It could mean that he has seen my handwriting only one time and it could mean he has seen it a thousand times.

What if I add the word "if", as in (4)? Would it still indicate frequency?

No, it wouldn't change anything abouth the aspect of the verb 'finds'.