Find or Finding

[Chocolatee]

Please tell me which sentence is correct. When do we use "find" and when do use "finding"?

1) I am finding it hard to understand this book.

2) I find it hard to understand this book.

If both are correct, is there any difference in their meaning or connotation?
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looks just fine!

[Swami]

I think the first one is correct.

Explanation:

1) I am finding it hard to understand this book.

After reading the particular Book thoroughly one finding it hard.so it may be correct.

2) I find it hard to understand this book.
The second one is certainly wrong.
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Regards,
Swami.

All Good things come to those who wait.

[Yankee]

Hi chocolatee

In my opinion, both sentences are absolutely correct, but there is a difference in connotation. I'll start with the second sentence.

2) I find it hard to understand this book.
For me, this is a general statement of fact or opinion, with no feeling of time involved. (e.g. I think it is hard to understand this book. No matter how many times I look at it, it's always hard to understand.)

But, you could also use this sentence to talk about a current (first time) reading of the book. The verb 'find' can indicate an opinion. Verbs of "opinion" often/usually are not used in the continuous form at all. For example, you should not say "I am thinking this is an interesting book." You should say "I think this is an interesting book" --- even if you're currently in the middle of reading the book for the first time.

So, I find your second sentence to be pretty standard.

1) I am finding it hard to understand this book.
This sentence clearly refers only to a current, on-going situation and emphasizes that. For me, it indicates that your difficulties in understanding have just recently begun (because you've just recently started reading the book). Possibly you also want to imply or emphasize that the difficulties are "currently in the process of growing or developing".

That's my gut feeling. Hope it helps.
Amy
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Amy
.
ESL teacher, and native speaker of American English

[Chocolatee]

Thank you for the explanation. It certainly made their connotations clearer to me. I guess the two forms have different usage then.
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looks just fine!

[Fan Of Arabian Horses]

Hi!

Sorry for bringing up confusion again!

Looking into my Grammar Book I found an explanation concerning this theme. It describes that you can use the progressive verb form for activity verbs only. Further there are three kinds of state verbs. One of them is the verb of meaning, knowing and guessing. State verbs can be used in the simple form only.

Now I wonder whether the verb ?find? in that sentence is an activity verb or a state verb?

Really confused

Michael

[Alan]

Hi Michael,

It is confsing as you say:

[Fan Of Arabian Horses]

Hi Alan!

Thank you for your explanation! Reading your reply and having a new look into my Grammar Book I think I understand. ?To find? is a verb of perception and not meaning and can be used both way (stative or dynamik) in this senence. So the possibilities are:

I (generally) find it hard to understand the book. My intelligence will never reach the neccessary level to understand it.
or:
I?m (actually) finding it hard to understand the book. After improving my skills I?ll be able to understand it.

similar to Fred?s nose:

Fred has (generally) a big nose! Compared to other noses Fred?s nose is big!
or:
Fred is having (Fred?s actually personal opinion) problems with his nose. He not neccessary intrinsic has a big nose!

Is that correct Alan?

Michael