Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.
Preparation
From: Paco
To: Maria
Subject: Thanks
Hi Maria,
I hope you're well.
I'm just writing to say thanks for your help on the project last month. We really appreciate you stepping in to support us. I know you had to put in extra hours to catch up on your own work, so thank you very much.
Your expertise was vital for this project and we couldn't have finished it successfully without you. You really helped us and we hope to work with you again on future projects.
I'll be in touch again soon about possible future collaborations. I look forward to working with you more closely this year.
All the best,
Paco
Tips
- Start with a friendly comment:
I hope you're well. - It's usually best to use an informal style with colleagues:
Hi Maria, …
Thanks for your help. - Keep it short.
- Mention the good work they did and the positive effect of it:
Your expertise was vital for this project.
We couldn't have finished it successfully without your help. - End with a positive comment about future collaboration:
I hope to work with you more closely in future.
I look forward to working with you again.
Hello Nikolaos
It's because it's a conditional sentence. The condition for the Cannes festival being canceled is a situation in which the Coronavirus situation has not improved. That condition is not a changing condition, it is a condition that has improved or has not (otherwise, how can you make a decision to cancel or not?) and so a continuous form expressing change doesn't make sense here.
Please note that it is possible to use a continuous form in conditional sentences (e.g. 'If he's coming to the party, I'm staying home' -- here the present continuous expresses future plans), but a continuous form in the headline you asked about just doesn't express the right meaning.
All the best
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello Nikolaos
The first sentence is the correct one. Since we are speaking about a situation that is changing, our aunt's changing health, we use a continuous verb form: the present continuous.
All the best
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team