[Grammar] suffer from/be suffering from

[inase]

It seems that even numbered declarative sentences are used less frequently (or sound awkward, for that matter) than odd numbered progressive sentences when the object of "suffer from" refers to short-term illnesses such as a cold or typhoid fever. Do you agree?

1. He is suffering from a bad cold today.
2. He suffers from a bad cold today.
3. He was suffering from a bad cold last week.
4. He suffered from a bad cold last week.
5. He has been suffering from a bad cold for a week.
6. He has suffered from a bad cold for a week.

The use of "suffer from" in the following two sentences seems OK with chronic diseases.

a. He is suffering from cancer/diabetes/AIDS. (progressive)
b. He suffers from cancer/diabetes/AIDS. (declarative)

Inase

 

[emsr2d2]

It seems that the even​-numbered declarative sentences are used less frequently (or sound awkward, for that matter) than odd numbered progressive sentences when the object of "suffer from" refers to short-term illnesses such as a cold or typhoid fever. Do you agree?

1. He is suffering from a bad cold today. :tick:
2. He suffers from a bad cold today. :cross:
3. He was suffering from a bad cold last week. :tick:
4. He suffered from a bad cold last week. Grammatically correct but not as natural as 3.
5. He has been suffering from a bad cold for a week. :tick:
6. He has suffered from a bad cold for a week. :tick:

The use of "suffer from" in the following two sentences seems OK with chronic diseases.

a. He is suffering from cancer/diabetes/AIDS. (progressive) :tick: but more natural to start with "He has".
b. He suffers from cancer/diabetes/AIDS. (declarative) :tick: but more natural to start with "He has".

Inase

See above.

Note that 1-6 would all be more natural if they started with "He has/He had".