Verb and meaning

Question

Hi . I have some questions1. A : I don't know how do I start?B : what do you put on that board? I watch that  on TV and my questions is why  they are using present verb ??(I think "will "or "be -ing" is more nature) like "what are you putting on that board? "2. A: who threw my pants?    B : I'm not     C : I wasn'tIs that possible?" I'm not "and " I wasn't " ??Meaning is different ??3.A : We were just headed out to dinner.   B : Do you think I show up empty-handed?In this case, why B uses "show up" not" showed up"(Already happened )Thank you in advance

KhoshtipMan · Accepted Answer

wskaI don't know how do I start?

This is not correct. You need to say either I don't know how I start? (or more simple "how to start")or How do I start?

wskaI think "will "or "be -ing" is more nature

The three (present simple, present continuous and future) work here.

wska2. A: who threw my pants?

This is informal/ungrammatical. Correct is: Who did throw my pants?

wskaIs that possible?" I'm not "and " I wasn't " ?

Seeming the speaker is trying to say "I'm not (wasn't) the person who did it". But more normal, you could say, no I didn't.

wska Do you think I show up empty-handed?In this case, why B uses "show up" not" showed up"

I think B means to say "Do you think I come empty-handed (as a usual habit of mine)? No I don't have such an habit and would come with a gift on my hand."
It was better, to me, that B would say "Do you think I would show up empty-handed?".

CalifJim · Answer

wska1. A : I don't know how do I start? B : What do you put on that board?

This is not a very logical dialog. I expect it all to be said by one person:
I don't know how to start. What do I put on the board?

wskaI watch that on TV and my questions is why they are using present verb ??(I think "will "or "be -ing" is more nature) like "what are you putting on that board? "

It's the procedural present, where you ask about what you're supposed to do, i.e., what you should do, next by asking in the present tense.
.
What do I do now? / What step do I take next? / What do I use to write it with? / Who do I ask about it? / Which one do I need now?
.
It's similar to using "should". What should I do? / Who should I ask?

wska2. A: who threw my pants? B : I'm not C : I wasn'tIs that possible?" I'm not "and " I wasn't " ??Meaning is different ??

Another highly implausible dialog. Did you mean 'throw away'?
.
A: Who threw away my pants?
B: I didn't. / It wasn't me.
.

Neither of your choices in B or C are correct.

wska3.A : We were just headed out to dinner. B : Do you think I show up empty-handed?

And again, this is not a realistic dialog. B's reply is not appropriate.

wskaIn this case, why B uses "show up" not" showed up" (Already happened )

There is not enough context to answer your question. It's possible that, even though the event of showing up has already happened, the speaker is talking about a general practice that he always does as an explanation of what happened. In that case he uses the simple present tense.
.
CJ

KhoshtipMan · Answer

KhoshtipManwska2. A: who threw my pants?This is informal/ungrammatical. Correct is: Who did throw my pants?

I made a mistake here, sorry. I don't know how I forgot that point there!
In A: who threw my pants? who is the subject of the sentence and no auxiliary verb is needed to form that question in this case (except for capitalizing the first letter).
Thanks CJ.

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