0
Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

present simple or continuous

Hi teachers,

What is the difference between these sentences, and which one should I use?

1. My research interests focus on improving nutritional status and preventing disease in children

2. My research interests focus on the improvement of nutritional status and prevention of disease in children.

Does it matter if I choose the simple or continuous or do they basically mean the same?

Thank you in advance.
  

Top answer

They have the same meaning. This is not a matter of continuous vs. present simple (neither sentence even has continuous aspect).

— RandomGuy

  • They have the same meaning.
  • This is not a matter of continuous vs.
  • present simple (neither sentence even has continuous aspect).
  • The grammatical difference is that improving nutritional status and preventing disease in children is a coordination of non-finite gerund-participial clauses and the improvement of nutritional status and prevention of disease in children is a coordination of noun phrases.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
They have the same meaning.

This is not a matter of continuous vs. present simple (neither sentence even has continuous aspect). The grammatical difference is that improving nutritional status and preventing disease in children is a coordination of non-finite gerund-participial clauses and the improvement of nutritional status and prevention of disease in children is
0
0
Aspara GusThey have the same meaning.This is not a matter of continuous vs. present simple (neither sentence even has continuous aspect). The grammatical difference is that improving nutritional status and preventing disease in children is a coordination of non-finite gerund-participial clauses and the improvement of nutritional status and prevention of disease in childre
0
0
AnonymousI thought that whenever -ing is used it is a present continuous.
Oh, no, only when it's used with the verb be.
AnonymousSo are both of these examples correct and would it not matter which I choose?
Yes.
0
0
Aspara GusAnonymousI thought that whenever -ing is used it is a present continuous.Oh, no, only when it's used with the verb be.
Got it. Thanks a lot. This subject was confusing me a lot.

Can you please give me an example with be just to demonstrate?
Aspara Guso are both of these examples correct and would it not matter
0
0
AnonymousCan you please give me an example with be just to demonstrate?
I am writing a novel. / I have been waiting for hours.
AnonymousJust to confirm, either one is correct and it would not matter which I write, right?Lastly, would the same apply to this sentence:I started screaming at my parents for trying to sen
0
0
Aspara Gus AnonymousCan you please give me an example with be just to demonstrate?I am writing a novel. / I have been waiting for hours.AnonymousJust to confirm, either one is correct and it would not matter which I write, right?Lastly, would the same apply to this sentence:I started screaming at my parents for trying to send me to camp.I started to scream at my parents f
0
0
AnonymousSo, in general, choosing either of these two forms is correct and personal preference, which applies to all sentences that are similar to our examples.
In general, yes.
Anonymousthere are a variety of ways to construct a sentence and these forms are examples. Have I explained correctly?
Yes.
0

Related Questions