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Have or having tomorrow an exam. / as you asked me
I always see students writing : I can't go because I have an exam tomorrow.
I wonder if " am having " is more correct since it I'd a future event.
Similarly ,they always write:
as you told asked me in your letter, I think that moving is a great idea.
The point here is: does " as you asked me " make sense ?
Thanks
May 30, 2016 12:43 PM
Answers · 3
The present continuous sounds really bad in that example. I would consider it incorrect. The sentence your student wrote is perfect.
May 30, 2016
Hello!
It is correct to say "I have an exam tomorrow." This refers to a one-time event taking place in the future. The phrase "I am having..." is most often used to refer to something current and ongoing (for example, I am having trouble with my computer) or something in the future that you are organizing or planning (for example, I am having a birthday party).
May 30, 2016
"I have an exam tomorrow" is more common than "I am having an exam tomorrow." I am not quite sure why (and I am a native speaker). I would say "I am leaving tomorrow" rather than "I leave tomorrow" although both are correct.
This is just a guess, but I think that when the emphasis is on the action, we may tend to use the gerund form "am having" instead of "have". Examples: I am having difficulty confirming this though. I have to think about it.
May 30, 2016
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English
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