English Grammar

PRESENT CONTINOUS VS. PRESENT SIMPLE

Jorgito

User since 2009
Posts: 3

19 Oct. 2011

Hi there,
Somebody can tell me why I have to use the Present Progressive in the first part of the following text and the Present Simple in the second part.
Thanks,
Jorgito

It is 7:45 in the evening, and Philip Cheeter run is running late for his date with Swedish super-model Ivana Bümbüm. Cheeter gets into his car and drives to the florist to buy some petunias.

5 comments

Jorgito
User since 2009
Posts: 3
19 Oct. 2011

Hi there,
Somebody can tell me why I have to use the Present Progressive in the first part of the following text and the Present Simple in the second part.
Thanks,
Jorgito

It is 7:45 in the evening, and Philip Cheeter run is running late for his date with Swedish super-model Ivana Bümbüm. Cheeter gets into his car and drives to the florist to buy some petunias.
Hi there, Somebody can tell me why I have to use the Present Progressive in the first part of the following text and the Present Simple in the second part. Thanks, Jorgito It is 7:45 in the evening, and Philip Cheeter run is running late for his date with Swedish super-model Ivana Bümbüm. Cheeter gets into his car and drives to the florist to buy some petunias.
Gymglish Support
User since 2010
Posts: 115
22 Oct. 2011

You're absolutely right, AhQ. Those are the reasons why we have to use those tenses in those places.
You're absolutely right, AhQ. Those are the reasons why we have to use those tenses in those places.
eBrain
User since 2009
Posts: 613
2 Nov. 2011

I'm not sure I understand well :
- do you mean "performative action" is not the appropriate word ?
- and even an action that doesn't last should be described with the "present continuous" ?.
I must confess that "performative action", "present continuous" and even "head gasket" didn't belong to my vocabulary...thank you ! I can now see what they mean ;)
I'm not sure I understand well : - do you mean "performative action" is not the appropriate word ? - and even an action that doesn't last should be described with the "present continuous" ?. I must confess that "performative action", "present continuous" and even "head gasket" didn't belong to my vocabulary...thank you ! I can now see what they mean ;)
AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
1 Nov. 2011

My goodness! How lucky we are with numbering among us a gasket that doesn't let bad toughts spread all around.

Thank you, Head Gasket, for correcting both errors, the word misuse and the grammar mistake. My opinion proved to be twice wrong.
My goodness! How lucky we are with numbering among us a gasket that doesn't let bad toughts spread all around. Thank you, Head Gasket, for correcting both errors, the word misuse and the grammar mistake. My opinion proved to be twice wrong.
AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
21 Oct. 2011

At 7:45 PM Philipe is running late. It's a state of being that lasts for some time.

He gets into his car. That doesn't last, it's a sudden action.
He drives to the florist. It's a performative action, not a lasting one.

Just my opinion, Jorgito.
At 7:45 PM Philipe is running late. It's a state of being that lasts for some time. He gets into his car. That doesn't last, it's a sudden action. He drives to the florist. It's a performative action, not a lasting one. Just my opinion, Jorgito.

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