catch a cold

Hi,

1. She's catching a cold.

2. She's caught a cold.

What's the difference in meaning between the two sentences? Consider a slightly simpler example.

1. She's painting her kitchen. The work is not finished at the time of speaking, it is still continuing.

2. She's (= she has) painted her kitchen. The work is finished at the time of speaking.

Best wishes, Clive

Hi,

1. She's catching a cold. It takes a little time to develop cold symptoms. She has started to get a cold, but the cold is not yet 'completely in her body'.

3. She has a cold. She 'possesses' a cold. She has all the symptoms. 

Best wishes, Clive

It's true that "catching a cold" is a rather insidious process... [sneeze!] Either you (realize that you) have it or not. Maybe a mother could tell her child: "Honey, it's raining! Come on inside, you've already sneezed twice, you're catching a cold!"

Yes, that or "you'll catch a cold!"

You obviously can't say "she's catching a cold" like "she's reading a book", unless you're one of the tiny viruses or whatever inside the body ...