"Turn" "are turning"

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

This sentence is from Longman Advanced Student's Grammar by Mark Foley and Diane Hall. The book says the simple present is used to talk about comments but in its answer key gives the present progressive as the correct choice.
"I can see the leaders. The three front runners (turn) are turning the corner into the stadium complex now.

 

[teechar]

The book says the simple present is used to talk about comments

Yes but not always, as you can see from that example. The keyword in that case is "now". It makes more sense to use the present continuous (progressive) for an ongoing action when using the word "now".

Thus:
The three front runners are turning the corner into the stadium complex now. [okay]
The three front runners turn the corner into the stadium complex and wave to the cheering crowds. [okay]

 

[Rachel Adams]

Yes but not always, as you can see from that example. The keyword in that case is "now". It makes more sense to use the present continuous (progressive) for an ongoing action when using the word "now".

Thus:
The three front runners are turning the corner into the stadium complex now. [okay]
The three front runners turn the corner into the stadium complex and wave to the cheering crowds. [okay]

And it's because the progressive is used for longer actions and situations and the simple present is used for quicker actions too. Right?

 

[Rachel Adams]

That's an over-simplification.

The progressive focuses in some way on the limited duration of the action. The present simple does not, so is appropriate if the speaker sees the action as punctual, i.e. occupying only a point (rather than a period) in time.

That rule is from Swan. But this example is from Macmillan "A man goes to see his psychiatrist. He says he is having problems because he imagines he is a pair of curtains." The book says the simple present is used in jokes when talking about past events and the present progressive Instead of past progressive. It doesn't say anything about limited duration but again they prefer the progressive. Would it sound natural if I use the simple present? They dont mention limited duration but they use the progressive. I mean "He has problems" instead of "He is having problems".

 

[Rachel Adams]

Three of the verbs are in the present simple, a common tense in jokes.

One is in the present progressive,indicating that the man's problems are in the limited period. The preset simple would not convey this idea.

I see. These are Swan's examples for quicker and longer actions.
1. "Smith passes to Devaney, Devaney to Barnes- and Harris unterceprs.."
"Harris passes back to Simms, nice ball-and Simms shoots!"
2. "Oxford are pulling slightly ahead of Cambridge now; they are rowing with a beautiful rhythm; Cambridge are looking a little disorganized..."
I didn't mention in one of the previous posts that the books says use the present simple for short actions and the progressive for longer actions when we are commenting.