0
Forum_mail Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

why the Present Simple and not the Present Continuous here?

Here's the sentence:

I don't see him very much now

Every rule says that time expresions like "now" (which actually stand for "these days" in this sentence, in my opinion) are used with the Present Continuous and not the Present Simple...

thanks in advance,

ps. and one more thing:

Could I say I spend more time with my girlfriend these days ? instead of I'm spending... ? I mean... I know that these days is used with the Present Continuous, but doesn't it imply here that I spend more time with my girl every time I go out with her? I mean... as a routine?
  

Top answer

» It is a bad rule that is superficial, that is, not reflecting the nature of things. It is just mnemonic rule, a rule of thumb. Yes, in many cases Now (meaning NOW) used with Present Perfect.

— Ant_222

  • » It is a bad rule that is superficial, that is, not reflecting the nature of things.
  • It is just mnemonic rule, a rule of thumb.
  • Yes, in many cases Now (meaning NOW) used with Present Perfect.
  • But it's wrong about "these days".
  • The action in question is episodical.
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.

5 Answers
0
«Every rule says that time expresions like "now" (which actually stand for "these days" in this sentence, in my opinion) are used with the Present Continuous and not the Present Simple...»

It is a bad rule that is superficial, that is, not reflecting the nature of things. It is just mnemonic rule, a rule of thumb. Yes, in many cases Now (meaning NOW) used with Present Perfect. But it's w
0
0
Every rule says that time expresions like "now" ... are used with the Present Continuous and not the Present Simple...
That doesn't sound right. now with the simple present is quite possible.

Could I say I spend more time with my girlfriend these days ? instead of I'm spending... ? I mean... I know that these days is
0
0
so... what actually am I supposed to choose, when the book gives me two options and I have to pick just one of them, like in this one:

"I spend/am spending more time with my girlfriend these days" - this is taken from a book... which one to choose?

thanks
0
0
In this case I prefer "I am spending more time with my girlfriend these days".

Though I am not sure whether the Present Simple version is ok or not...
0
0
Forum_mailso... what actually am I supposed to choose, when the book gives me two options and I have to pick just one of them, like in this one:

"I spend/am spending more time with my girlfriend these days" - this is taken from a book... which one to choose?

thanks
I would choose 'I am spending' in this case. If we expanded this s
0

Related Questions