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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Present simple and continuous
Hi, I would like to ask you about using the simple present and continuous in the following sentences.
Every time I watch this film, I cry.
Every time I watch this film, I am crying.
Every time I am watching this film, I am crying.
Every time I am watching this film, I cry.
And how about the past? Which tenses should I use if I want to express this sentence in the past?
Every time I watch this film, I cry.
Every time I watch this film, I am crying.
Every time I am watching this film, I am crying.
Every time I am watching this film, I cry.
And how about the past? Which tenses should I use if I want to express this sentence in the past?
Top answer
e. 'watching' is a relatively durational matrix within which the relatively sporadic 'crying' occurs): Every time I watch this film, I cry. -- A statement of two simple events.
- e.
- 'watching' is a relatively durational matrix within which the relatively sporadic 'crying' occurs): Every time I watch this film, I cry.
- -- A statement of two simple events.
- - - As above, but also making clear the matrix event.
- The past is just as demanding: the past progressive expresses a durative matrix more exclusively than does the present progressive: Every time I watched this film, I cried Every time I was watching this film, I cried.
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2 Answers
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These are the only expected permutations, since the only reasonable interpretation is that the person cries at intervals during the film (i.e. 'watching' is a relatively durational matrix within which the relatively sporadic 'crying' occurs):
Every time I watch this film, I cry. -- A statement of two simple events.
Every time I am watching this film, I cry.-- As abo
Every time I watch this film, I cry. -- A statement of two simple events.
Every time I am watching this film, I cry.-- As abo
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