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Laborious Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Q9: Help me, please, complete the following sentence by choosing the appropriate verb

Hello again, teachers...

Please help me with the following (incomplete) sentence by replying to the questions I have of it. 

The sentence is:

- I call her everyday in the afternoon, but she doesn't respond to my calls at that time. God knows what she __________ (a. does, b. is doing) in the afternoon(s). 

Which option (present simple or present continuous?) do you think is appropriate or better (in case both are possible), please? Can we use the present continuous too to talk about somebody's habitual or repeated actions? 

Thank you. 
  

Top answer

I think 'present simple' would be correct because it's happening all the time not once. So, the correct sentence would be '*** knows what she does in thee afternoons'.

— Tenjing

  • I think 'present simple' would be correct because it's happening all the time not once.
  • So, the correct sentence would be '*** knows what she does in thee afternoons'.
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7 Answers
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I think 'present simple' would be correct because it's happening all the time not once. So, the correct sentence would be '*** knows what she does in thee afternoons'.
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I wouldn't be surprised to see present continuous used in that sentence... I think if you want to add emphasis and a bit of annoyance then *** knows what she's doing might be justified... Anyway, wait for others' replies.
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The only problem I see is that 'every day' should be two words, not one.
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Mister MicawberThe only problem I see is that 'every day' should be two words, not one.
Mister Micawber, would you say then that both present simple and present continuous could be used in that sentence?

Thanks
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Mister MicawberThe only problem I see is that 'every day' should be two words, not one.
Hmmm...
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LaboriousSo, you mean you won't have any objections toeither form, right?
Right. I don't see any significant difference here beyond the possibility of what PS has suggested.
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Thanks Mister Micawber. I wasn't sure if my way of thinking was correct.
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