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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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 Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:51 am Post subject: Grammar question |
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Is the following sentence grammatically correct?
What do you do daily? |
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Mike_2007
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 349
Location: Bucharest, Romania
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:39 am Post subject: |
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| Seems ok to me 'technically' although it doesn't sound quite natural out of context. "What do you do daily to blah blah blah...?" |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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I would not consider it a natural sentence. I think, "What do you do everyday?" is better.
I just used the sentence because I work with my junior high school students to prepare for their high school entrance exams. I have a book of words that I help them practice. I also give them worksheets and make them write sentences to help them practice the words they need to know. |
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BobbyBan
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 201
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:54 pm Post subject: Re: Grammar question |
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| JZer wrote: |
Is the following sentence grammatically correct?
What do you do daily? |
It is unusual. I think "What do you do everyday?" would be better as you suggested or perhaps, "What do you do on a daily basis?" if you wanted to sound formal (or even bureacratic). |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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I think it's too vague - needs more context.
How would YOU answer, if someone wanted to know what you do every day? 
It could be linked to work, or some specific time period, for example.
What do you do every (most) evenings?
What do you do every day at work? |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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There was no context. That was the problem. I am using a book to help students prepare for their high school entrance exam.
I teach at a junior high school. I teach conversation and test prep. |
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BobbyBan
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 201
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
There was no context. That was the problem. I am using a book to help students prepare for their high school entrance exam.
I teach at a junior high school. I teach conversation and test prep. |
Sometimes the test questions are a problem because they simply are unnatural. I've seen questions in Japan of the form:
Choose the correct word:
I ____________ go shopping.
a) having
b) be
c) do
d) aren't
C is the only possible answer because it is grammatically correct and can be used on almost non-existently rare occasions as in a reply to "I heard that you never ever ever go shopping, then?" and probably preceded by "No...".
If the textbook contains past papers with multiple choice questions like that then your students should probably eliminate nongrammatical answers and opt for the weird one remaining. |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 4:13 pm Post subject: Re: Grammar question |
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| JZer wrote: |
Is the following sentence grammatically correct?
What do you do daily? |
I agree with Mike that it's probably correct from a technical standpoint but it is vague. A question like "What is your daily routine?" would be better. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I agree with Mike that it's probably correct from a technical standpoint but it is vague. A question like "What is your daily routine?" would be better. |
Yes, the point is that I couldn't think of a better sentence at that time. |
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