Grammar question no. 23 - running/run a system

Question

Dear Users,I'm quite active on different cameras- and computers-related forums and I often see sentences such as:What system are you running?I'm running Windows 7Now, what I makes me a bit perplexed is that I've been taught that we normally use the present simple tense to describe repetitive actions. Now, isn't running a system such an action? I mean, we turn on our computers every day and the system doesn't change overnight, does it? So... I think it's safe to assume that one uses the same system 7 days a week, 30 days a month, perhaps 360 days a year.Is it incorrect or out of ordinary to say What system do you run?Thanks

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Perfect StrangerIs it incorrect or out of ordinary to say What system do you run?

That is not incorrect, but it is not ordinary.

When the person is posting or responding, his/her computer must be running, right? And in that computer, there must be an underlying operating system, right? So the normal expression is "What OS is your computer using / running?"

Perfect Stranger · Answer

AlpheccaStarsSo the normal expression is "What OS is your computer using / running?"

Thanks AS. Would you say then that What system are you running? is incorrect due to the fact that a person can't be running a system?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Perfect StrangerWhat system are you running? is incorrect due to the fact that a person can't be running a system?

But the person is in charge of his system, isn't he? .

Technically, the computer, not its operator, is running under an OS. But 'What system have you installed on your computer and it is running?' is a real mouthful, so most people just shorten it to "What system are you running?" Everyone understands what is meant.

Perfect Stranger · Answer

I see, I see... but I'm still not quite sure if I get the idea behind using the present continuous tense. According to what you said, it seems that the use of this tense is justified because a person is posting his or her reply at the moment of speaking. Am I right? But don't you think that the system runs on an every day basis?

I hope I've made my doubt clear enough

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Yes, The computer is turned on on an everyday basis.
But if it isn't running, it is switched off, or it has a blue screen, I can't post or do anything else with it.. The computer has to be running simultaneously with its user's blogging and posting, so the continuous tense is used. Certainly the system runs on an everyday basis, but if you ask "What system do you run?" I would think you are asking about a computer that I are not currently using.

For example, I don't use my cell phone when I blog.
They ask me, what OS do you run on your cell phone?

Typically, a blog is about an error that happens on your computer. Then "What system were you running when the error occurred?" is the best option.

Perfect Stranger · Answer

Thanks again...

Perhaps I just don't have your natural native-speaker's sense... For me it's like... What camera do you use? It's a general question about the type of equipement someone usually uses.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Perfect StrangerWhat camera do you use? It's a general question about the type of equipement someone usually uses.

But if I see someone taking pictures, I would ask "what kind of camera are you using?" I would not ask, "What kind of camera do you use?"
If I am eating dinner at a restaurant with friends, I might ask them, "I'm thinking about buying a new camera. What kind do you use?" I would not ask, "What kind of camera are you using?"

Perfect Stranger · Answer

AlpheccaStarsBut if I see someone taking pictures, I would ask "what kind of camera are you using?" I would not ask, "What kind of camera do you use?" If I am eating dinner at a restaurant with friends, I might ask them, "I'm thinking about buying a new camera. What kind do you use?" I would not ask, "What kind of camera are you using?"

thanks AS, exactly, I totally agree...

so, we have already agreed that What camera do you use would be appropriate when we are making a general question and the user is not using the camera now...

then... how come What system do you use is not appropriate if I want to know what system sb uses in general? Let's say sb has posted the following words:

Hi everyone, I'm having some problems with my PC. It crashes every once in a while at the least expected moments and a blue screen pops up all the time. What can I do?

Perfect Stranger · Answer

my previous post is missing the final sentence:

So, if someone's computer crashes every once in a while... shouldn't I say: What system do you use?

CalifJim · Answer

Perfect StrangerWhat system are you running?I'm running Windows 7Now, what I makes me a bit perplexed is that I've been taught that we normally use the present simple tense to describe repetitive actions.

Yes, but the present continuous can also be used for that purpose. The present simple tends to convey the idea of an unchanging, permanent 'always'. The present continuous suggests something more intermittent or temporary; it suggests situations that occur from time to time, that is, "these days", "just for now", acknowledging that this situation may be different either before or after the relevant time period.

Similarly,

What books are you reading (these days)? (From time to time. Not at this very moment. Acknowledgement that the kinds of books may have been different in the past and may be different in the future.)

I'm playing a lot of tennis (these days). (From time to time. Not at this very moment. Acknowledgement that this situation may have been different in the past and may be different in the future.)

What system are you running (these days). (You may have run a different system in the past. You may run a different system in the future. You haven't necessarily always run the same system on your computer, and you won't necessarily always run the same system on your computer in the future.)

Kathy is taking the bus to work (for now) because her car is in the shop for repairs. (She used to take her car to work. After it is repaired, she will take her car to work again.)

Jack is picking up the kids from school this week. His wife is having health problems. (Suggests that Jack's wife usually picks the kids up from school. This week things have changed (temporarily). It is expected that this situation will change again and Jack's wife will pick up the kids when she feels better.)

Contrast:

Kathy takes the bus to work. (Always. No suggestion of any alternate habit.)
Jack picks up the kids from school. His wife has health problems. (Always. No suggestion of any alternate habit.)

CJ

Grammar question no. 23 - running/run a system

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