0
MIA6 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
present continuous
1. We usually use present continuous tense refers to something happening right at this moment. Here are two sentences from my grammar book:
A few artists live in town today.
A few artists are living in town today. What does the second sentence mean here? I think the first one is definitely accepted in present tense. But what's the point of using it in present continuous tense?
I am curious. I am being curious. What's the difference between these two? Is the second one in present continuous tense?
BTW, I know that present continuous tense also has a use of future. e.g. I am playing soccer tomorrow. But what is its difference with "I am going to play soccer tomorrow" and "I will play soccer tomorrow"? Does it imply a more definite plan for future?
2. This is the nicest boy that I have ever seen. I have always heard people use present perfect tense in this kind of sentence. But can we use past tense in this sentence and can also mean the same thing? e.g. This is the nicest boy that I ever saw.
Thanks for help.
A few artists live in town today.
A few artists are living in town today. What does the second sentence mean here? I think the first one is definitely accepted in present tense. But what's the point of using it in present continuous tense?
I am curious. I am being curious. What's the difference between these two? Is the second one in present continuous tense?
BTW, I know that present continuous tense also has a use of future. e.g. I am playing soccer tomorrow. But what is its difference with "I am going to play soccer tomorrow" and "I will play soccer tomorrow"? Does it imply a more definite plan for future?
2. This is the nicest boy that I have ever seen. I have always heard people use present perfect tense in this kind of sentence. But can we use past tense in this sentence and can also mean the same thing? e.g. This is the nicest boy that I ever saw.
Thanks for help.
Top answer
As for will vs going to: if you make any prediction about the future you may use both, but if you are speaking about prior plans only be going is used or present continious. A few artists are living in town today. It's difficult to judge without a context but we can suppose that this sentence means a contemporary action, so the situation may change in the future and more artists will live in the town.
- As for will vs going to: if you make any prediction about the future you may use both, but if you are speaking about prior plans only be going is used or present continious.
- A few artists are living in town today.
- It's difficult to judge without a context but we can suppose that this sentence means a contemporary action, so the situation may change in the future and more artists will live in the town.
- If you want to stress that today (nowdays) in general a few artists live, so you use present simple.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
As for will vs going to: if you make any prediction about the future you may use both, but if you are speaking about prior plans only be going is used or present continious.
A few artists are living in town today. It's difficult to judge without a context but we can suppose that this sentence means a contemporary action, so the situation may change in the future and more artists will liv
A few artists are living in town today. It's difficult to judge without a context but we can suppose that this sentence means a contemporary action, so the situation may change in the future and more artists will liv
00
As for will vs going to: if you make any prediction about the future you may use both, but if you are speaking about prior plans only be going is used or present continious.
A few artists are living in town today. It's difficult to judge without a context but we can suppose that this sentence means a contemporary action, so the situation may change in the future and more artists will liv
A few artists are living in town today. It's difficult to judge without a context but we can suppose that this sentence means a contemporary action, so the situation may change in the future and more artists will liv
00
Hi MIA
If live is in the continuous present tense, it usually conveys the idea that a person lives somewhere temporarily:
He is living in Melbourne now.
- He may be in Melbourne because his work has taken him there for a year or two, or he may be a student at a local university.
He lives in Melbourne.
- His permanent residence is in M
If live is in the continuous present tense, it usually conveys the idea that a person lives somewhere temporarily:
He is living in Melbourne now.
- He may be in Melbourne because his work has taken him there for a year or two, or he may be a student at a local university.
He lives in Melbourne.
- His permanent residence is in M
0
Related Questions