I assume this is correct: I will see my friend to the aiport. But for this, I cannot see a single hit on Google: I’m seeing my friend to the airport. I’m using the progressive to express that this is a plan, something that is for sure going to happen (at least according to my … Read more
I’d like to know if both sentences could be possible. We’ve gone / We’ve been going to the same dentist since we were children. You’ve worn / You’ve been wearing that coat for years. Thank you in advance. Answer I would go with the present perfect progressive here (the second set of options). The present … Read more
Firstly, is the following sentence correct? My brother is being unusually nervous lately. If correct, how is being nervous behavior? We usually use the progressive of be to describe a behavior or an action, not states of the mind. Secondly, I have read in both Longman and the Oxford dictionary that you use only present … Read more
I read that nonfinite verb form end in -ed,-ing or starts with to and another definition where nonfinite verb form show no tense. But on the other hand, I’ve read there are past and present progressive verb forms. They start with is/are/am and end in -ing for present tense. In past form they start with … Read more
The full context is below, but the basic question is: is the word spending in the following example really a gerund, as claimed by the University Challenge question-setters? My “best guess” would be that it is an example of a present participle or the progressive aspect. Q: Give the single word gerund that completes the … Read more
I know that theoretically you can use both statements in English: a) Look! The sun rises. b) Look! The sun is rising. But is anybody (who is a native speaker) saying “Look! The sun rises.”? In German, for instance, it is absolutely normal (and common) to use the equivalent of statement “a”. Answer If you … Read more
(1) He must regret his decision. (2) He must be regretting his decision. If you’re sure that "he" regrets his decision, can you say either (1) or (2)? In other words, can (2) be interpreted as not having a progressive meaning to it? Answer To answer your last question first, it will always be interpreted … Read more
I have to generate random questions Yes/No about hotels, restaurants, etc. for a Natural-Language Programming task. The focus is on questions about characteristics about such places that are rather dynamic (e.g., current length of queue, available parking spaces). I’m trying to cover a wide range of formulations so that not all questions look too much … Read more
Suppose I started working on a project several years ago and right now I’m still working on the same project. If I want to express this to someone else what tense should I use? The statement should make clear that the action in question is still ongoing, i.e. that I’m still working on this project. … Read more
I’ve been looking at the difference in sentences that express future events: those using “BE going to ɪɴꜰɪɴɪᴛɪᴠᴇ” versus those using “BE ᴠᴇʀʙ-ing” (sometimes called the present continuous or present progressive). If I understand correctly, the difference is: The BE going to ɪɴꜰɪɴɪᴛɪᴠᴇ form is used for future plans (or events) that are certain: I … Read more
