Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[erik19283]

Hello,

If someone asks you, "What are you up to these days?"

Would you asnwer:

1- "I'm currently studying at/in ...."

or

2- "I currently study at/in ...."

If both are possible, could you explain the difference?

Thank you.

[CP]

Well, you can say "I am studying" because that's the present progressive, or you can say "I study" because that is the simple present, but you cannot say "I am study" because that is no tense at all.

Most people probably would say, "I'm attending X University" or "I'm going to X University," leaving off the "currently," because it isn't needed. After all, the question is about what you're up to these days, so anything you answer will be what you are currently doing.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[2006]

Using the progressive tense is a much more natural way answer to that question. You don't need the word "currently"; these days means currently, so saying "currently" is redundant.

What are you up to these days?

I'm studying (English) at ABC College in Paris.