Jim Henderson schrieb:
> On Fri, 07 Aug 2009 09:08:56 -0400, Jeremy \"UncleHoot\" Praay wrote:
> 
>> In fact, it seems like people for whom English is a second language
>> often have better grammar than many native speakers
> 
> I've found this to be generally the case, though I often see odd 
> constructions like:
> 
> "What option do you have to enter to [...]"
> 
> Instead of:
> 
> "Which option is used to [...]"
> 
> I've just been reviewing a skills assessment written in English by a 
> native German speaker, and this type of construction is very common in 
> German apparently.

It is, indeed. Although the second construction would be grammatically 
valid in German as well, it is seldom used for this purpose, as it has 
quite a strong connotation of asking about conventions, not requirements 
or possibilities - as in, "which option is *typically* used to [...]", 
or "which option is used to [...] at *this* company". Maybe quite akin 
to the progressive form, i.e. "which option is being used to [...]".

The German language only has one present tense, without distinguishing a 
simple and progressive form - maybe that's why.

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