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I've just read this sentence in a medic book: "How do we know when someone is suffering from concussion?" Would it be incorrect if I used the Present Simple form? For example, "...when someone suffers from concussion?"
Is there any rule that says that we should use Present Continuous in these types of sentences?
The two sentences have different meanings, and the simple present version would be incorrect in this context.
Present continuous generally means something that is currently true, so if you have a patient and they are suffering from a concussion, it means right now. So the question, "How do we know when someone is suffering from concussion?" means, "How do we identify that a patient is currently suffering from concussion?". The answer to this question is a list of symptoms that present when a person is currently suffering from a concussion.
Simple present generally means something that happens regularly, from time to time, and not necessarily now, so if you have a patient and they suffer from concussion, it means from time to time. So the question, "How do we know when someone suffers from concussion?" means, "How do we identify that a patient regularly suffers concussions?". The answer to this question is a list of symptoms of people who regularly suffer concussions.
No, it would not be incorrect
when someone suffers from concussion
you may use both cases, either the verb suffer, like above or the gerund is suffering like in the article
