meet/meeting

Question

Hi1. We meet on Mondays and Thursdays, right?2. We are meeting on Mondays and Thursdays, right?3. We meet on Friday again, right?4. We are meeting on Friday again, right?Thanks

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

All correct, if that's your question.
CJ

Newguest · Answer

CalifJim All correct, if that's your question.

CJ

Oops, I forgot to ask a question [Is it also OK to write: I've forgotten to ask a question?]

But you're right, that was my question.

So, there is really no difference between "We meet on Fridays and Saturdays" and "We are meeting on Fridays and Saturdays"

I think there is a difference between "I meet Peter tomorrow" and "I'm meeting Peter tomorrow"

Thanks

CalifJim · Answer

NewguestIs it also OK to write: I've forgotten to ask a question?

Yes, but I like your original better!

Newguestno difference

I didn't say that. Saying two sentences are correct is not the same as saying there is no difference between them! Nevertheless, the differences are minimal in the two pairs.
The -ing form asks the listener to look at the situation from the point of view of some on-going activity. The non -ing form does not.
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Note that the plural form of the day means the sentence will be taken as a statement about something habitual and/or regular.
We meet on Fridays tells what happens on that day every week. It's a bare and neutral fact answering the question "When do you meet?"

We are meeting on Fridays tells what our normal practice has been for some time and suggests that this practice is on-going and will continue for some time. It may be an answer to the question "What are you doing to solve the problem?"
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The singular form of the day changes the meaning. Now you have a future planned event.

We meet on Friday says the same thing as We are meeting on Friday, but is more matter-of-fact (or blunt, or commanding) -- at least to my ear. Even more casual is We are going to meet on Friday.
Here's a rough analogy:
We meet on Friday is like We will meet on Friday, and We are meeting on Friday is like We are going to meet on Friday.

CJ

Newguest · Answer

Hi

So, if at the end of the class you would like to ask your students when you meet next time you would ask: We meet on Friday again, right? OR We are meeting on Friday again, right?

CalifJim · Answer

If I am the teacher, I don't ask the students when we meet. They ask me. As the teacher, I'm the one who sets the schedule.

Suppose we turn it around. If a student asks the teacher about the day we meet, he or she can ask either of those two questions. Yes!
(In conversational mode, it would be we're, not we are.)
CJ

Newguest · Answer

Thank you for your explanations CalifJim!!!

meet/meeting

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