[محذوف]
Which tense to use or might both be correct?
"...I am currently travelling with Liam, a student from Leeds University in England. He is a nice guy, but impatient. He is always walking ahead of me and complaining that I am too slow. I do my best to keep up with him, but he is younger and stronger than I am."
This is an extract from a rather popular exercise on Present Simple vs Present Continuous.
And you can easily find answers on the Internet. Though, there is disagreement on 3rd and 4th sentences: he always walks (complains) or he is always walking (complaining); I do my best or I'm doing my best.
I personally think that the third sentence refers to annoying habit so we should use Pres.Cont.
And I just sense that I do my best is better but can't explain why)
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الإجابات · 6
3
The third sentence is a complaint with the word "always" and so the examiner wanted to prompt the student to remember the usage of the present continuous in this situation. I would say that the present continuous is used when there is exaggeration and feelings of annoyance and/or frustration. If it's actually true that he always walks ahead, then you can use the present simple, and even emphasise it with "do" ("and he does always walk...")
If you say "I am doing my best", it suggests that the situation is temporary ("I am doing my best for now, but who knows how long I will last"), whereas "I do my best" indicates a situation which is more generally true ("I generally do my best).
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1
I agree completely with Micheal's points. I would just also add that "I'm doing my best" is what you would say if you were (1.) in the process of doing something right now or (2.) it's an extended task you're in the middle of (and will end at some point).
1. Eg.* While walking*
A: Can't you walk any faster?
B: I'm doing my best!
2.Eg.
"My mum thinks I'm not studying hard enough at university but I'm doing my best! It's hard work and I need a social life too!"
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