Present tense

Question

If I'm talking to someone in the present(at the moment) can I say:

What brought you to new york? or

What brings you to new york?

Are both grammatically correct and natural in conversation?

Moving on a fast pace. Or

Moving at a fast pace.

What's the difference?

Are they both usable and mean the same thing?

Thanks for sharing!

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

PreciousJonesWhat brought you to New York? or

What brings you to New York?

Are both grammatically correct and natural in conversation?

Both are fine. If the person has only recently come to New York, the second gives the impression that you are more interested in the person you're talking to. It's more immediate. However, if the person came to New York quite a long time ago and has been living in New York for years, it's not appropriate to ask the second question.

Typically, a citizen of New York would ask a visiting tourist, "What brings you to New York?" but a visiting tourist who knows a citizen of New York who moved there many years ago asks the citizen, "What brought you to New York?"

CJ

Present tense

Top answer

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