I have noticed that there are some phrases which are typically found used with the Present Simple while it is not impossible to use them with the Present Continuous. And I am talking about such instances when the action is occurring at the moment of speaking only.
For example,
- Mom, what are you doing while I sit here watching waves?
- While I sit here eating a sour piece of candy, I think to myself, how I have allowed my world to change from sweet to sour?
My question is: Do you find it idiomatic to use Past Simple in my example or would you use Present Continuous?
I would also like to know whether this usage comes down to the word while or the specific verb used. I've heard that for the three verbs sit, lie, grow it is typical to be used with Past Simple even when the action is temporary. Is that right? Would the following be grammatical?
Mom, what are you doing while I lie here watching waves?
And would it be okay to use other verbs too?
Mom, what are you doing while I talk here watching waves?
Don’t know a good example with grow though.