future - Use of "I am having" on Stack Exchange sites


I use Stack Overflow a lot and have noticed a certain trend that I myself got caught up in at one time of using the phrase "I am having a problem" in place of "I have a problem."


I would use this phrase for an event in the future, for example, "I am having a steak dinner tonight," but for a problem that I need solved and am asking for a solution, I'd use "I have a problem..."


What would force us to use this phrase? Is it even valid English for the present tense?



Answer



"I am having a problem" sounds more like the speaker is talking about a current and recent ongoing process, which is probably why it tends to show up on SO. "I have a problem" also has an idiomatic usage meaning the speaker is objecting to something, which isn't a meaning that occurs with "I am having a problem".


It's perfectly valid; it is the present participle.


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