"Is studying" or "studies"

[Rachel Adams]

When talking about studying at "school/college" and "university" is it wrong to use the present continuous? For example, "He is studying French at university/school/college." Does it depend on the length of the course?

 

[GoesStation]

It's correct and natural. It has nothing to do with the length of the course; it just means that he is currently engaged in the studies.

 

[Rachel Adams]

It's correct and natural. It has nothing to do with the length of the course; it just means that he is currently engaged in the studies.

Present simple is wrong because it's temporary. Right?

 

[GoesStation]

Present simple is wrong because it's temporary. Right?

No. It's correct and means nearly the same thing.

 

[emsr2d2]

The present simple is wrong because it's temporary. Is that right?

If you're going to persist in asking questions by giving us a statement and then adding a clarification question, please at least make sure that question is a complete sentence. We would still prefer that you use standard sentence construction: "Is the present simple wrong because it's temporary?"

 

[Rachel Adams]

No. It's correct and means nearly the same thing.

Do you mean in AmE even if we are talking about the current activity the present simple is still used?
As in that example. "He studies" instead of "is studying."

 

[GoesStation]

Do you mean in AmE even if we are talking about the current activity the present simple is still used?
As in that example. "He studies" instead of "is studying."

I have two nephews in graduate school. One's studying biochemistry at the University of Cambridge, England. The other studies mathematics at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania, USA.

Both sentences are correct and natural.