I've got a bunch of examples dealing with the same issue. I have had some opinions on them but some of the opinions are controversial. So, I hope to get a better picture from you. The issue deals with the usage of the present simple for the future actions.
A person has arranged an appointment with the lawyer recently and wants to tell about it:
1) I see my lawyer tomorrow. (not as part of habitual actions) 2) I am seeing my lawyer tomorrow.
I know that 2 is what is said most often, but sometimes, I can read or hear people say 1. Could you give some guidelines which would help to understand when 1 could/should be used?
3) Do you know what you are doing every day this summer? 4) Do you know what you do every day this summer?
Sentence 3 is fine. I wonder whether 4 is completely wrong. Most of the people say it is wrong. However, one person considers it possible explaining it "It is usually a rhetorical question, and is a lead in to a description of a repeated task; possibly as a complaint, possibly as an order. "
What do you think of 4? Does that explanation hold water? Are there any circumstances when you would see how it could fit to be used? I have googled and found a few examples from literature of this sentence "What do you do next year?" For example, 'But what do you do next year?' I asked. 'Yes. That is the problem,' he replied. ' I suppose, that there must be some situations when 4 may fit. Or am I wrong?
No comments:
Post a Comment