Learn English – “My computer isn’t working” or “My computer doesn’t work”

present-tense

My friend is working as computer engineer, I phoned him and ask him the following:

  1. My computer isn't working, Could you repair it?
  2. My computer doesn't work, Could you repair it?

Which one is more common in this context? present simple or *present continuous *?

Best Answer

Both are fine, but "isn't working" sounds like the problem is temporary, and more fixable. "Doesn't work" feels more serious, or long-term.

Still, the exact meaning depends on the context of the rest of the sentence.

My car doesn't work. Let's take yours. (My car has been broken for a while).

My car doesn't work. I don't know what happened, since it was fine this morning (it's temporarily broken).