Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[bijou44]

HI!
I'd like you to tell me which of the following is correct:
1a. All you ever do is complain
or
1b.All you ever do is complaining.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
2a.Tears filling her eyes, she slammed the door
or,
2b.With tears filling her eyes, she slammed the door.
Could you give me a short explanation as well?
Thanks a lot
bijou44

[Kristea]

You wrote...

1a. All you ever do is complain
or
1b.All you ever do is complaining.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
2a.Tears filling her eyes, she slammed the door
or,
2b.With tears filling her eyes, she slammed the door.

Here is my best shot...

1a is correct. The sentence implies that the behavior is habitual, so I can see why one might think that "complaining" would be correct. However, just "complain" is right. In this sentence the speaker is reporting and labeling behavior; the speaker is not commenting on current behavior necessarily. I don't know if thta makes sense. Ultimately, I am 99% confident this much easier advice will hold true. If you are using the helping verbs "do is" you do not use the "-ing" form of the word following.

As for you next two sentences, both are technically correct, but 2b sounds more natural for a native speaker.

Hope I didn't confuse you. If you need a better stab at your questions, let me know - Kristea
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