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Adrian71 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Which sounds more naturally in English?
I've learnt that if you do something regularly, at regular intervals, you use "always" with the Present Simple Tense. However, if you do an action at all times, or if an action is annoying, you use "always" with the Present Continous Tense. My question is which is better to say in English - You always learn/You are always learning (something new). I used the first option in one of my facebook posts but in real life there are situations which teach us something and they don't happen regularly, life is no evening course where you can acquire knowledge at regular intervals, so???
Top answer
Adrian71 if you do something regularly, at regular intervals, you use "always" with the Present Simple Tense. Adrian71 but in real life there are situations which teach us something and they don't happen regularly You can still use simple present—just so long as they happen repeatedly over a long time span. Adrian71 if you do an action at all times, or if an action is annoying, you use "always" with the Present Continous Tense In both cases (annoying or gratifying), the use of present continuous suggests a greater interest/involvement/concern/other emotional colouring by the speaker than does simple present.
- Adrian71 if you do something regularly, at regular intervals, you use "always" with the Present Simple Tense.
- Adrian71 but in real life there are situations which teach us something and they don't happen regularly You can still use simple present—just so long as they happen repeatedly over a long time span.
- Adrian71 if you do an action at all times, or if an action is annoying, you use "always" with the Present Continous Tense In both cases (annoying or gratifying), the use of present continuous suggests a greater interest/involvement/concern/other emotional colouring by the speaker than does simple present.
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4 Answers
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Adrian71 if you do something regularly, at regular intervals, you use "always" with the Present Simple Tense.
Adrian71but in real life there are situations which teach us something and they don't happen regularlyYou can still use simple present—just so long as they happen repeatedly over a long time span.
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There seems to be a little bit of misinterpretation if I read your post correctly. It is true that "always" suggests a meaning of repeated action or habit but it is not just used in present tense.
e.g. He always sleeps early. This means as a pattern, he goes to bed early, may not be every night, but very often.
Always -can be used in past as well. When we first got married, we always
e.g. He always sleeps early. This means as a pattern, he goes to bed early, may not be every night, but very often.
Always -can be used in past as well. When we first got married, we always
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Adrian71I've learnt that if you do something regularly, at regular intervals, you use "always" with the Present Simple Tense.You can. You don't always have to. I go to bed at midnight has the present tense without 'always', and it's about a regular practice.
Adrian71which is better to say in English - You always learn/You are
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