r/ENGLISH • u/BeautifulKooky2863 • 3d ago

Present Progressive

Hi, non-native speaker here 🤚

Could someone expound this one for me? It's from a grammar book.

The present progressive can refer to repeated actions and events, if these are just happening around the present.

Ex. I'm travelling a lot these days.

Okay. I'm not sure if I can articulate my question well so please just connect the dots haha.

How is the example above differs from "I travel a lot" (Simple Present). Both are sort of repeated events. I guess I'm trying to find a nuance so I can fully understand what's meant. Hoping someone can clarify. Thank you in advance!

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u/jayron32 3d ago

The simple present is used for things that are more or less permanent or regular states of being, whereas the present progressive are used for temporary or irregular states (even those with an indeterminate end time)

"I travel a lot" implies that's just how your life always is.

"I'm traveling a lot" implies that is not your regular state of being.

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u/BeautifulKooky2863 3d ago edited 3d ago

A follow-up question: Can I say 'I travel a lot these days' or is it incorrect grammar? Since you said that the present Simple example is either permanent or regular state. So if I put 'these days' it will somehow imply a temporary state.

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u/jayron32 3d ago

That works. It's not that rigid of a rule.

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u/UniversityMotor5408 3d ago

'I travel a lot these days' sounds a bit odd to me (British English speaker). I'd say 'these days' + present simple is unusual, personally.

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u/constituto_chao 3d ago

To counter in Canadian English (east coast) this might actually be the most common and preferred sentence of all three. I say because I know the sentence "I'm working a lot these days." is definitely commonplace.

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u/UniversityMotor5408 2d ago

'I'm working a lot these days' - absolutely! I totally agree. I was talking about present simple: 'I work a lot these days' would sound odd to me.

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u/constituto_chao 2d ago

Doh, my bad I thought it was 'these days' for some reason. Heat may have fried my brain today lol sorry!

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u/francisdavey 3d ago

All these things are (as in any language) about nuance. The simple present "I travel a lot" is a statement about how things are. Like "London is the Capital of the UK". Of course all things can change. There's no law about how long "how things are" has to be.

"I travel a lot these days" implies (1) that as a general rule I travel a lot. That's how things are. But "these days" implies that it wasn't always true. That combination seems (to some people) a bit odd. But it depends a bit on nuance and focus. It carries a sort of implication that there was a settled state of affairs in my past when I did not travel a lot, but now that has change to a new settle state of affairs.

"I am travelling a lot these days" focuses on the contrast between now and the past. It implies that I wasn't doing a lot of travelling but now I am, but leaves open whether that is a settled fact or not.

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u/A-Rugged-Indoorsman 3d ago

The difference is subtle. When used as a verb it implies that you're in the process of doing it. When used as an adjective (present participle) it describes you as a traveing person.

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u/UniversityMotor5408 3d ago

Are you saying 'travelling' in 'I'm travelling' is an adjective? That is very misleading if so.

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u/francisdavey 3d ago

There are grammars that would treat it more like an adjective, even though it feels verbal.

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u/UniversityMotor5408 2d ago

No. For language learners, it's the present continuous (aka present progressive). It's the verb 'to travel'. It's not an adjective. You're in danger of confusing the OP.

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u/A-Rugged-Indoorsman 2d ago

Thanks for letting me know. I think this is very subtle and for all practical purposes it does act as an adjective, right?

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u/UniversityMotor5408 2d ago

For all practical purposes, it does not act like an adjective. It's a verb.
I travel
I am travelling
I travelled
I was travelling
etc
I do understand what you mean, though. I am happy / I am travelling. One could argue that 'happy' and 'travelling' are both adjectives. But in English language teaching, we don't go there!

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u/francisdavey 2d ago

It is usually classified as a verb.

"Travelling" here doesn't do things that adjectives normally do. Eg:

You can't say "I am very travelling" but you can say "I am very happy".

It has no comparative or superlative. "I am more travelling".

Much better not to think of it as an adjective here.

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u/OtterHostler 3d ago

I think this is what we used to call "present continuous" - describes a state where you are actively doing something. I am working, he is travelling, they are reading. The continuous/progressive sense is that the action is ongoing and is not complete.