“I teach” vs. “I'm teaching” — which one is proper in this situation?
Following situation occurs/ed. I meet a friend for a coffee. We chat and I ask him what he's doing for work now.
His answer: "I'm teaching English."
This irks me. Because in that situation he's not teaching right that moment, but rather he teaches English. So shouldn't his answer rather be "I teach English."?
English is not my mother tongue but I do think I'm fluent in it. I grew up bilingual.
grammaticality verbs present-tense progressive-aspect
edited Apr 27 '14 at 11:51
RegDwigнt♦
82.8k31281377
asked Apr 26 '14 at 13:13
Grumpy ol' BearGrumpy ol' Bear
15317
|
show 7 more comments
Following situation occurs/ed. I meet a friend for a coffee. We chat and I ask him what he's doing for work now.
His answer: "I'm teaching English."
This irks me. Because in that situation he's not teaching right that moment, but rather he teaches English. So shouldn't his answer rather be "I teach English."?
English is not my mother tongue but I do think I'm fluent in it. I grew up bilingual.
grammaticality verbs present-tense progressive-aspect
edited Apr 27 '14 at 11:51
RegDwigнt♦
82.8k31281377
asked Apr 26 '14 at 13:13
Grumpy ol' BearGrumpy ol' Bear
15317
5
This question appears to be off-topic because it should be asked on English Language Learners
– FumbleFingers
Apr 26 '14 at 13:39
3
Except for the fact that I'm not a new user learning English as my second language. Even the native speakers have troubles and they come here to ask.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:20
8
If you think the progressive is ungrammatical in this context, why did you ask him what he is doing?
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 15:24
1
Yes, the sites are perhaps misnamed. 'More basic' and 'more advanced' would perhaps fit better.
– Edwin Ashworth
Apr 26 '14 at 15:25
2
In the archives of EL&U I have seen many many questions that were EXTREMELY basic, that received numerous upvotes and excellent answers. This is a simple question but lets not fool ourselves, native speakers aren't infallible, and the majority haven't a clue about grammar because they weren't taught it. At least this question was clear, well written and the OP explained his dilemma. A darn sight more than the majority of questions we have been receiving of late (end of rant).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 17:49
|
show 7 more comments
Following situation occurs/ed. I meet a friend for a coffee. We chat and I ask him what he's doing for work now.
His answer: "I'm teaching English."
This irks me. Because in that situation he's not teaching right that moment, but rather he teaches English. So shouldn't his answer rather be "I teach English."?
English is not my mother tongue but I do think I'm fluent in it. I grew up bilingual.
grammaticality verbs present-tense progressive-aspect
edited Apr 27 '14 at 11:51
RegDwigнt♦
82.8k31281377
asked Apr 26 '14 at 13:13
Grumpy ol' BearGrumpy ol' Bear
15317
Following situation occurs/ed. I meet a friend for a coffee. We chat and I ask him what he's doing for work now.
His answer: "I'm teaching English."
This irks me. Because in that situation he's not teaching right that moment, but rather he teaches English. So shouldn't his answer rather be "I teach English."?
English is not my mother tongue but I do think I'm fluent in it. I grew up bilingual.
grammaticality verbs present-tense progressive-aspect
grammaticality verbs present-tense progressive-aspect
edited Apr 27 '14 at 11:51
RegDwigнt♦
82.8k31281377
asked Apr 26 '14 at 13:13
Grumpy ol' BearGrumpy ol' Bear
15317
edited Apr 27 '14 at 11:51
RegDwigнt♦
82.8k31281377
asked Apr 26 '14 at 13:13
Grumpy ol' BearGrumpy ol' Bear
15317
edited Apr 27 '14 at 11:51
RegDwigнt♦
82.8k31281377
edited Apr 27 '14 at 11:51
RegDwigнt♦
82.8k31281377
edited Apr 27 '14 at 11:51
RegDwigнt♦
82.8k31281377
82.8k31281377
asked Apr 26 '14 at 13:13
Grumpy ol' BearGrumpy ol' Bear
15317
asked Apr 26 '14 at 13:13
Grumpy ol' BearGrumpy ol' Bear
15317
asked Apr 26 '14 at 13:13
Grumpy ol' BearGrumpy ol' Bear
15317
15317
5
This question appears to be off-topic because it should be asked on English Language Learners
– FumbleFingers
Apr 26 '14 at 13:39
3
Except for the fact that I'm not a new user learning English as my second language. Even the native speakers have troubles and they come here to ask.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:20
8
If you think the progressive is ungrammatical in this context, why did you ask him what he is doing?
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 15:24
1
Yes, the sites are perhaps misnamed. 'More basic' and 'more advanced' would perhaps fit better.
– Edwin Ashworth
Apr 26 '14 at 15:25
2
In the archives of EL&U I have seen many many questions that were EXTREMELY basic, that received numerous upvotes and excellent answers. This is a simple question but lets not fool ourselves, native speakers aren't infallible, and the majority haven't a clue about grammar because they weren't taught it. At least this question was clear, well written and the OP explained his dilemma. A darn sight more than the majority of questions we have been receiving of late (end of rant).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 17:49
|
show 7 more comments
5
This question appears to be off-topic because it should be asked on English Language Learners
– FumbleFingers
Apr 26 '14 at 13:39
3
Except for the fact that I'm not a new user learning English as my second language. Even the native speakers have troubles and they come here to ask.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:20
8
If you think the progressive is ungrammatical in this context, why did you ask him what he is doing?
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 15:24
1
Yes, the sites are perhaps misnamed. 'More basic' and 'more advanced' would perhaps fit better.
– Edwin Ashworth
Apr 26 '14 at 15:25
2
In the archives of EL&U I have seen many many questions that were EXTREMELY basic, that received numerous upvotes and excellent answers. This is a simple question but lets not fool ourselves, native speakers aren't infallible, and the majority haven't a clue about grammar because they weren't taught it. At least this question was clear, well written and the OP explained his dilemma. A darn sight more than the majority of questions we have been receiving of late (end of rant).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 17:49
5
5
This question appears to be off-topic because it should be asked on English Language Learners
– FumbleFingers
Apr 26 '14 at 13:39
This question appears to be off-topic because it should be asked on English Language Learners
– FumbleFingers
Apr 26 '14 at 13:39
3
3
Except for the fact that I'm not a new user learning English as my second language. Even the native speakers have troubles and they come here to ask.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:20
Except for the fact that I'm not a new user learning English as my second language. Even the native speakers have troubles and they come here to ask.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:20
8
8
If you think the progressive is ungrammatical in this context, why did you ask him what he is doing?
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 15:24
If you think the progressive is ungrammatical in this context, why did you ask him what he is doing?
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 15:24
1
1
Yes, the sites are perhaps misnamed. 'More basic' and 'more advanced' would perhaps fit better.
– Edwin Ashworth
Apr 26 '14 at 15:25
Yes, the sites are perhaps misnamed. 'More basic' and 'more advanced' would perhaps fit better.
– Edwin Ashworth
Apr 26 '14 at 15:25
2
2
In the archives of EL&U I have seen many many questions that were EXTREMELY basic, that received numerous upvotes and excellent answers. This is a simple question but lets not fool ourselves, native speakers aren't infallible, and the majority haven't a clue about grammar because they weren't taught it. At least this question was clear, well written and the OP explained his dilemma. A darn sight more than the majority of questions we have been receiving of late (end of rant).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 17:49
In the archives of EL&U I have seen many many questions that were EXTREMELY basic, that received numerous upvotes and excellent answers. This is a simple question but lets not fool ourselves, native speakers aren't infallible, and the majority haven't a clue about grammar because they weren't taught it. At least this question was clear, well written and the OP explained his dilemma. A darn sight more than the majority of questions we have been receiving of late (end of rant).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 17:49
|
show 7 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
Q: What are you doing at the moment?
A: I'm teaching English at a language school.
Does this mean the person is teaching at the moment of speaking. No, it doesn't. We use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are in progress or for actions that are, for the time being, temporary in nature. The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period. Of course, he could always change his mind and become a full-time fully fledged teacher, but his answer was grammatical and perfectly acceptable.
Wikipedia
The present continuous is used in several instances.
To describe something which is happening at the exact moment of
speech:
The boy is crying.
To describe an action that is taking place now, but
not at the exact moment of speech:
He is working in Dubai.
To describe an event which is planned in the
future:
I'm resitting my French exam on Tuesday.
- With always, but meaning often:
My mother is always making me go to school!
She is always playing with that doll!
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:35
Mari-Lou AMari-Lou A
61.8k55218456
1
@Mari-LouAI was tempted to downvote it myself because of this, " The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period." I said almost the exact same sentence a few weeks ago because someone in the same district as me knew that I had left the school he was in. I simply changed schools; I have no intention of leaving that school or the profession: "I am teaching at X." That being said, you answered the question and did not deserve a downvote.
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 13:41
Downvoter reversed vote (must've read the answer).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 13:56
1
That or I convinced him with gentle reasoning!
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 14:01
Thanks for all the effort Mari-Lou. Much obliged. Even though I did know about present continuous, I'm neither a native speaker nor infallible and do forget. I'm after all human, and make mistakes too.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 18:38
2
Mmm ... It may imply that he thinks of his teaching as temporary, but that's at most an implicature, not an entailment - and me, I don't think it's even that absent some contextual support. I think it's just the ordinary response to the question asked: "Whatcha doing?" - "Teaching English."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:48
add a comment |
It depends on the circumstance.
If you are actually in a classroom, teaching an English class and a student asks:
"What are you doing right now?"
A correct response would be:
"I am teaching English."
The response describes your current activity.
If, however, the student asks:
"What is your occupation?"
The correct response would be:
"I teach English."
This response describes your occupation.
Two different questions, two different answers.
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:26
Gary's StudentGary's Student
6,18711732
1
Mmm ... "I teach English" is a correct response, but so is "I am teaching English". Strictly speaking, the response most literally suited to the question "What is your occupation?" would be "[It is] English teacher."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:44
@StoneyB I agree that there are many "correct" correct responses to either question.
– Gary's Student
Apr 26 '14 at 18:50
add a comment |
It is the difference between present progressive and simple present.
"So what are you doing nowadays, Don?"
"I am teaching English."
You taught English yesterday, now, and tomorrow.
As to your annoyance:
Your understanding of the progressive tense is that you have to be doing the thing right that very second, but that would mean we would never say "am running" unless we are on the phone panting because we are running while talking.
As you can see, the posed question asked what his profession is and was, what he has been doing, so, at this very moment, and in the past, and in the future, he was, is, and will be a teacher of English.
"What do you do, Don?"
"I teach English."
Simple present--right now, I teach English.
As for "to teach", "to teach" is an infinitive that can act like a noun, adjective, or adverb.
"I plan to teach English." (Direct Object)
"To teach English is my goal." (Subject)
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:33
Apple FreejeansApple Freejeans
51825
Well okay, that and the other answers cleared it up. I was aware of the different tenses and whatnot, it just didn't sit right with me. Thanks.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:24
add a comment |
Your friend answered "I am teachING English"simply because you asked "What are you doING." If you had asked "What DO you do now?" Your friend's answer would be "I TEACH English."
Please remember your friend IS teaching English (at that time). That's how he teaches his students to answer questions.
answered 43 mins ago
Soo Kok YunSoo Kok Yun
1
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Q: What are you doing at the moment?
A: I'm teaching English at a language school.
Does this mean the person is teaching at the moment of speaking. No, it doesn't. We use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are in progress or for actions that are, for the time being, temporary in nature. The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period. Of course, he could always change his mind and become a full-time fully fledged teacher, but his answer was grammatical and perfectly acceptable.
Wikipedia
The present continuous is used in several instances.
To describe something which is happening at the exact moment of
speech:
The boy is crying.
To describe an action that is taking place now, but
not at the exact moment of speech:
He is working in Dubai.
To describe an event which is planned in the
future:
I'm resitting my French exam on Tuesday.
- With always, but meaning often:
My mother is always making me go to school!
She is always playing with that doll!
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:35
Mari-Lou AMari-Lou A
61.8k55218456
1
@Mari-LouAI was tempted to downvote it myself because of this, " The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period." I said almost the exact same sentence a few weeks ago because someone in the same district as me knew that I had left the school he was in. I simply changed schools; I have no intention of leaving that school or the profession: "I am teaching at X." That being said, you answered the question and did not deserve a downvote.
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 13:41
Downvoter reversed vote (must've read the answer).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 13:56
1
That or I convinced him with gentle reasoning!
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 14:01
Thanks for all the effort Mari-Lou. Much obliged. Even though I did know about present continuous, I'm neither a native speaker nor infallible and do forget. I'm after all human, and make mistakes too.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 18:38
2
Mmm ... It may imply that he thinks of his teaching as temporary, but that's at most an implicature, not an entailment - and me, I don't think it's even that absent some contextual support. I think it's just the ordinary response to the question asked: "Whatcha doing?" - "Teaching English."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:48
add a comment |
Q: What are you doing at the moment?
A: I'm teaching English at a language school.
Does this mean the person is teaching at the moment of speaking. No, it doesn't. We use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are in progress or for actions that are, for the time being, temporary in nature. The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period. Of course, he could always change his mind and become a full-time fully fledged teacher, but his answer was grammatical and perfectly acceptable.
Wikipedia
The present continuous is used in several instances.
To describe something which is happening at the exact moment of
speech:
The boy is crying.
To describe an action that is taking place now, but
not at the exact moment of speech:
He is working in Dubai.
To describe an event which is planned in the
future:
I'm resitting my French exam on Tuesday.
- With always, but meaning often:
My mother is always making me go to school!
She is always playing with that doll!
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:35
Mari-Lou AMari-Lou A
61.8k55218456
1
@Mari-LouAI was tempted to downvote it myself because of this, " The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period." I said almost the exact same sentence a few weeks ago because someone in the same district as me knew that I had left the school he was in. I simply changed schools; I have no intention of leaving that school or the profession: "I am teaching at X." That being said, you answered the question and did not deserve a downvote.
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 13:41
Downvoter reversed vote (must've read the answer).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 13:56
1
That or I convinced him with gentle reasoning!
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 14:01
Thanks for all the effort Mari-Lou. Much obliged. Even though I did know about present continuous, I'm neither a native speaker nor infallible and do forget. I'm after all human, and make mistakes too.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 18:38
2
Mmm ... It may imply that he thinks of his teaching as temporary, but that's at most an implicature, not an entailment - and me, I don't think it's even that absent some contextual support. I think it's just the ordinary response to the question asked: "Whatcha doing?" - "Teaching English."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:48
add a comment |
Q: What are you doing at the moment?
A: I'm teaching English at a language school.
Does this mean the person is teaching at the moment of speaking. No, it doesn't. We use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are in progress or for actions that are, for the time being, temporary in nature. The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period. Of course, he could always change his mind and become a full-time fully fledged teacher, but his answer was grammatical and perfectly acceptable.
Wikipedia
The present continuous is used in several instances.
To describe something which is happening at the exact moment of
speech:
The boy is crying.
To describe an action that is taking place now, but
not at the exact moment of speech:
He is working in Dubai.
To describe an event which is planned in the
future:
I'm resitting my French exam on Tuesday.
- With always, but meaning often:
My mother is always making me go to school!
She is always playing with that doll!
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:35
Mari-Lou AMari-Lou A
61.8k55218456
Q: What are you doing at the moment?
A: I'm teaching English at a language school.
Does this mean the person is teaching at the moment of speaking. No, it doesn't. We use the present continuous tense to talk about things that are in progress or for actions that are, for the time being, temporary in nature. The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period. Of course, he could always change his mind and become a full-time fully fledged teacher, but his answer was grammatical and perfectly acceptable.
Wikipedia
The present continuous is used in several instances.
To describe something which is happening at the exact moment of
speech:
The boy is crying.
To describe an action that is taking place now, but
not at the exact moment of speech:
He is working in Dubai.
To describe an event which is planned in the
future:
I'm resitting my French exam on Tuesday.
- With always, but meaning often:
My mother is always making me go to school!
She is always playing with that doll!
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:35
Mari-Lou AMari-Lou A
61.8k55218456
edited Apr 26 '14 at 18:00
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:35
Mari-Lou AMari-Lou A
61.8k55218456
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:35
Mari-Lou AMari-Lou A
61.8k55218456
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:35
Mari-Lou AMari-Lou A
61.8k55218456
61.8k55218456
1
@Mari-LouAI was tempted to downvote it myself because of this, " The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period." I said almost the exact same sentence a few weeks ago because someone in the same district as me knew that I had left the school he was in. I simply changed schools; I have no intention of leaving that school or the profession: "I am teaching at X." That being said, you answered the question and did not deserve a downvote.
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 13:41
Downvoter reversed vote (must've read the answer).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 13:56
1
That or I convinced him with gentle reasoning!
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 14:01
Thanks for all the effort Mari-Lou. Much obliged. Even though I did know about present continuous, I'm neither a native speaker nor infallible and do forget. I'm after all human, and make mistakes too.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 18:38
2
Mmm ... It may imply that he thinks of his teaching as temporary, but that's at most an implicature, not an entailment - and me, I don't think it's even that absent some contextual support. I think it's just the ordinary response to the question asked: "Whatcha doing?" - "Teaching English."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:48
add a comment |
1
@Mari-LouAI was tempted to downvote it myself because of this, " The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period." I said almost the exact same sentence a few weeks ago because someone in the same district as me knew that I had left the school he was in. I simply changed schools; I have no intention of leaving that school or the profession: "I am teaching at X." That being said, you answered the question and did not deserve a downvote.
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 13:41
Downvoter reversed vote (must've read the answer).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 13:56
1
That or I convinced him with gentle reasoning!
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 14:01
Thanks for all the effort Mari-Lou. Much obliged. Even though I did know about present continuous, I'm neither a native speaker nor infallible and do forget. I'm after all human, and make mistakes too.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 18:38
2
Mmm ... It may imply that he thinks of his teaching as temporary, but that's at most an implicature, not an entailment - and me, I don't think it's even that absent some contextual support. I think it's just the ordinary response to the question asked: "Whatcha doing?" - "Teaching English."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:48
1
1
@Mari-LouAI was tempted to downvote it myself because of this, " The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period." I said almost the exact same sentence a few weeks ago because someone in the same district as me knew that I had left the school he was in. I simply changed schools; I have no intention of leaving that school or the profession: "I am teaching at X." That being said, you answered the question and did not deserve a downvote.
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 13:41
@Mari-LouAI was tempted to downvote it myself because of this, " The fact your friend replied using the present continuous means he does not consider teaching to be his permanent job, it is a stopover, something he is doing now, for a limited period." I said almost the exact same sentence a few weeks ago because someone in the same district as me knew that I had left the school he was in. I simply changed schools; I have no intention of leaving that school or the profession: "I am teaching at X." That being said, you answered the question and did not deserve a downvote.
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 13:41
Downvoter reversed vote (must've read the answer).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 13:56
Downvoter reversed vote (must've read the answer).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 13:56
1
1
That or I convinced him with gentle reasoning!
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 14:01
That or I convinced him with gentle reasoning!
– Apple Freejeans
Apr 26 '14 at 14:01
Thanks for all the effort Mari-Lou. Much obliged. Even though I did know about present continuous, I'm neither a native speaker nor infallible and do forget. I'm after all human, and make mistakes too.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 18:38
Thanks for all the effort Mari-Lou. Much obliged. Even though I did know about present continuous, I'm neither a native speaker nor infallible and do forget. I'm after all human, and make mistakes too.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 18:38
2
2
Mmm ... It may imply that he thinks of his teaching as temporary, but that's at most an implicature, not an entailment - and me, I don't think it's even that absent some contextual support. I think it's just the ordinary response to the question asked: "Whatcha doing?" - "Teaching English."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:48
Mmm ... It may imply that he thinks of his teaching as temporary, but that's at most an implicature, not an entailment - and me, I don't think it's even that absent some contextual support. I think it's just the ordinary response to the question asked: "Whatcha doing?" - "Teaching English."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:48
add a comment |
It depends on the circumstance.
If you are actually in a classroom, teaching an English class and a student asks:
"What are you doing right now?"
A correct response would be:
"I am teaching English."
The response describes your current activity.
If, however, the student asks:
"What is your occupation?"
The correct response would be:
"I teach English."
This response describes your occupation.
Two different questions, two different answers.
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:26
Gary's StudentGary's Student
6,18711732
1
Mmm ... "I teach English" is a correct response, but so is "I am teaching English". Strictly speaking, the response most literally suited to the question "What is your occupation?" would be "[It is] English teacher."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:44
@StoneyB I agree that there are many "correct" correct responses to either question.
– Gary's Student
Apr 26 '14 at 18:50
add a comment |
It depends on the circumstance.
If you are actually in a classroom, teaching an English class and a student asks:
"What are you doing right now?"
A correct response would be:
"I am teaching English."
The response describes your current activity.
If, however, the student asks:
"What is your occupation?"
The correct response would be:
"I teach English."
This response describes your occupation.
Two different questions, two different answers.
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:26
Gary's StudentGary's Student
6,18711732
1
Mmm ... "I teach English" is a correct response, but so is "I am teaching English". Strictly speaking, the response most literally suited to the question "What is your occupation?" would be "[It is] English teacher."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:44
@StoneyB I agree that there are many "correct" correct responses to either question.
– Gary's Student
Apr 26 '14 at 18:50
add a comment |
It depends on the circumstance.
If you are actually in a classroom, teaching an English class and a student asks:
"What are you doing right now?"
A correct response would be:
"I am teaching English."
The response describes your current activity.
If, however, the student asks:
"What is your occupation?"
The correct response would be:
"I teach English."
This response describes your occupation.
Two different questions, two different answers.
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:26
Gary's StudentGary's Student
6,18711732
It depends on the circumstance.
If you are actually in a classroom, teaching an English class and a student asks:
"What are you doing right now?"
A correct response would be:
"I am teaching English."
The response describes your current activity.
If, however, the student asks:
"What is your occupation?"
The correct response would be:
"I teach English."
This response describes your occupation.
Two different questions, two different answers.
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:26
Gary's StudentGary's Student
6,18711732
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:26
Gary's StudentGary's Student
6,18711732
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:26
Gary's StudentGary's Student
6,18711732
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:26
Gary's StudentGary's Student
6,18711732
6,18711732
1
Mmm ... "I teach English" is a correct response, but so is "I am teaching English". Strictly speaking, the response most literally suited to the question "What is your occupation?" would be "[It is] English teacher."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:44
@StoneyB I agree that there are many "correct" correct responses to either question.
– Gary's Student
Apr 26 '14 at 18:50
add a comment |
1
Mmm ... "I teach English" is a correct response, but so is "I am teaching English". Strictly speaking, the response most literally suited to the question "What is your occupation?" would be "[It is] English teacher."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:44
@StoneyB I agree that there are many "correct" correct responses to either question.
– Gary's Student
Apr 26 '14 at 18:50
1
1
Mmm ... "I teach English" is a correct response, but so is "I am teaching English". Strictly speaking, the response most literally suited to the question "What is your occupation?" would be "[It is] English teacher."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:44
Mmm ... "I teach English" is a correct response, but so is "I am teaching English". Strictly speaking, the response most literally suited to the question "What is your occupation?" would be "[It is] English teacher."
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 18:44
@StoneyB I agree that there are many "correct" correct responses to either question.
– Gary's Student
Apr 26 '14 at 18:50
@StoneyB I agree that there are many "correct" correct responses to either question.
– Gary's Student
Apr 26 '14 at 18:50
add a comment |
It is the difference between present progressive and simple present.
"So what are you doing nowadays, Don?"
"I am teaching English."
You taught English yesterday, now, and tomorrow.
As to your annoyance:
Your understanding of the progressive tense is that you have to be doing the thing right that very second, but that would mean we would never say "am running" unless we are on the phone panting because we are running while talking.
As you can see, the posed question asked what his profession is and was, what he has been doing, so, at this very moment, and in the past, and in the future, he was, is, and will be a teacher of English.
"What do you do, Don?"
"I teach English."
Simple present--right now, I teach English.
As for "to teach", "to teach" is an infinitive that can act like a noun, adjective, or adverb.
"I plan to teach English." (Direct Object)
"To teach English is my goal." (Subject)
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:33
Apple FreejeansApple Freejeans
51825
Well okay, that and the other answers cleared it up. I was aware of the different tenses and whatnot, it just didn't sit right with me. Thanks.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:24
add a comment |
It is the difference between present progressive and simple present.
"So what are you doing nowadays, Don?"
"I am teaching English."
You taught English yesterday, now, and tomorrow.
As to your annoyance:
Your understanding of the progressive tense is that you have to be doing the thing right that very second, but that would mean we would never say "am running" unless we are on the phone panting because we are running while talking.
As you can see, the posed question asked what his profession is and was, what he has been doing, so, at this very moment, and in the past, and in the future, he was, is, and will be a teacher of English.
"What do you do, Don?"
"I teach English."
Simple present--right now, I teach English.
As for "to teach", "to teach" is an infinitive that can act like a noun, adjective, or adverb.
"I plan to teach English." (Direct Object)
"To teach English is my goal." (Subject)
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:33
Apple FreejeansApple Freejeans
51825
Well okay, that and the other answers cleared it up. I was aware of the different tenses and whatnot, it just didn't sit right with me. Thanks.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:24
add a comment |
It is the difference between present progressive and simple present.
"So what are you doing nowadays, Don?"
"I am teaching English."
You taught English yesterday, now, and tomorrow.
As to your annoyance:
Your understanding of the progressive tense is that you have to be doing the thing right that very second, but that would mean we would never say "am running" unless we are on the phone panting because we are running while talking.
As you can see, the posed question asked what his profession is and was, what he has been doing, so, at this very moment, and in the past, and in the future, he was, is, and will be a teacher of English.
"What do you do, Don?"
"I teach English."
Simple present--right now, I teach English.
As for "to teach", "to teach" is an infinitive that can act like a noun, adjective, or adverb.
"I plan to teach English." (Direct Object)
"To teach English is my goal." (Subject)
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:33
Apple FreejeansApple Freejeans
51825
It is the difference between present progressive and simple present.
"So what are you doing nowadays, Don?"
"I am teaching English."
You taught English yesterday, now, and tomorrow.
As to your annoyance:
Your understanding of the progressive tense is that you have to be doing the thing right that very second, but that would mean we would never say "am running" unless we are on the phone panting because we are running while talking.
As you can see, the posed question asked what his profession is and was, what he has been doing, so, at this very moment, and in the past, and in the future, he was, is, and will be a teacher of English.
"What do you do, Don?"
"I teach English."
Simple present--right now, I teach English.
As for "to teach", "to teach" is an infinitive that can act like a noun, adjective, or adverb.
"I plan to teach English." (Direct Object)
"To teach English is my goal." (Subject)
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:33
Apple FreejeansApple Freejeans
51825
edited Apr 26 '14 at 13:45
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:33
Apple FreejeansApple Freejeans
51825
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:33
Apple FreejeansApple Freejeans
51825
answered Apr 26 '14 at 13:33
Apple FreejeansApple Freejeans
51825
51825
Well okay, that and the other answers cleared it up. I was aware of the different tenses and whatnot, it just didn't sit right with me. Thanks.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:24
add a comment |
Well okay, that and the other answers cleared it up. I was aware of the different tenses and whatnot, it just didn't sit right with me. Thanks.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:24
Well okay, that and the other answers cleared it up. I was aware of the different tenses and whatnot, it just didn't sit right with me. Thanks.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:24
Well okay, that and the other answers cleared it up. I was aware of the different tenses and whatnot, it just didn't sit right with me. Thanks.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:24
add a comment |
Your friend answered "I am teachING English"simply because you asked "What are you doING." If you had asked "What DO you do now?" Your friend's answer would be "I TEACH English."
Please remember your friend IS teaching English (at that time). That's how he teaches his students to answer questions.
answered 43 mins ago
Soo Kok YunSoo Kok Yun
1
New contributor
Soo Kok Yun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Your friend answered "I am teachING English"simply because you asked "What are you doING." If you had asked "What DO you do now?" Your friend's answer would be "I TEACH English."
Please remember your friend IS teaching English (at that time). That's how he teaches his students to answer questions.
answered 43 mins ago
Soo Kok YunSoo Kok Yun
1
New contributor
Soo Kok Yun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Your friend answered "I am teachING English"simply because you asked "What are you doING." If you had asked "What DO you do now?" Your friend's answer would be "I TEACH English."
Please remember your friend IS teaching English (at that time). That's how he teaches his students to answer questions.
answered 43 mins ago
Soo Kok YunSoo Kok Yun
1
New contributor
Soo Kok Yun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Your friend answered "I am teachING English"simply because you asked "What are you doING." If you had asked "What DO you do now?" Your friend's answer would be "I TEACH English."
Please remember your friend IS teaching English (at that time). That's how he teaches his students to answer questions.
answered 43 mins ago
Soo Kok YunSoo Kok Yun
1
New contributor
Soo Kok Yun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 43 mins ago
Soo Kok YunSoo Kok Yun
1
New contributor
Soo Kok Yun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 43 mins ago
Soo Kok YunSoo Kok Yun
1
answered 43 mins ago
Soo Kok YunSoo Kok Yun
1
1
New contributor
Soo Kok Yun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Soo Kok Yun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Soo Kok Yun is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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5
This question appears to be off-topic because it should be asked on English Language Learners
– FumbleFingers
Apr 26 '14 at 13:39
3
Except for the fact that I'm not a new user learning English as my second language. Even the native speakers have troubles and they come here to ask.
– Grumpy ol' Bear
Apr 26 '14 at 14:20
8
If you think the progressive is ungrammatical in this context, why did you ask him what he is doing?
– StoneyB
Apr 26 '14 at 15:24
1
Yes, the sites are perhaps misnamed. 'More basic' and 'more advanced' would perhaps fit better.
– Edwin Ashworth
Apr 26 '14 at 15:25
2
In the archives of EL&U I have seen many many questions that were EXTREMELY basic, that received numerous upvotes and excellent answers. This is a simple question but lets not fool ourselves, native speakers aren't infallible, and the majority haven't a clue about grammar because they weren't taught it. At least this question was clear, well written and the OP explained his dilemma. A darn sight more than the majority of questions we have been receiving of late (end of rant).
– Mari-Lou A
Apr 26 '14 at 17:49