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Hi teachers,Gia:  Mom, there's no electricity.Mom:  Didn't you know? They are shutting off the power in the building today. ( 1. Should it be "They were shutting off.....today"Gia:  When did they shut off the electricity? Mom:  An hour ago.2.  They are shutting off the power today.  Did the shut-off start already?  Is there a difference if I say "They are shutting off the power for today"?3.  Quote:  She's planing a vacation in Hawaii.Is she on a vacation in Hawaii right now? Or is she going to have a vacation in Hawaii?I don't think she's in Hawaii planning  a vacation and will be leaving once she's decided a place?ThanksTN

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

tinanam0102Mom: Didn't you know? They are shutting off the power in the building today.
Should it be "They were shutting off.....today"?

No. It's two different sentences, one is a question, and the next one is a statement. So you don't match tenses. The following is a different case because the whole sentence is a question.

Didn't you know that they were shutting off ... today?

tinanam01022. They are shutting off the power today.
Did the shut-off start already?

As it happens according to the dialog, yes — though the same sentence can be used in other situations where the shut-off has not yet occurred.

Mom is just remarking that the shut-off that they are experiencing was expected and that the shut-off will continue for the rest of the day.

tinanam0102Is there a difference if I say "They are shutting off the power for today"?

No, but it is (slightly) more idiomatic to omit 'for'.

tinanam0102
3. Quote: She's planning a vacation in Hawaii.
Is she on a vacation in Hawaii right now? Or is she going to have a vacation in Hawaii?

If we want to be as logical as a robot, we should note that either interpretation is possible.

Nevertheless, most people will probably think the vacation will involve traveling to Hawaii at some point in the future. I would call that the default interpretation. The writer would have provided more information about the location of "she" if the alternative interpretation were intended.

tinanam0102I don't think she's in Hawaii planning a vacation and will be leaving once she's decided on a ~~place?~~ place.

Me neither.

CJ

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