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Amanda Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
What do you do?
Why do we say, "What do you do?" when we are asking somebody their occupation?
Top answer
Because 'do' means 'work at as a vocation' ( Webster's , 'do' definition #13). The real answer is that we say that because it is a stereotyped discoursal expression. '-- but we usually don't.
- Because 'do' means 'work at as a vocation' ( Webster's , 'do' definition #13).
- The real answer is that we say that because it is a stereotyped discoursal expression.
- '-- but we usually don't.
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1 Answers
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Because 'do' means 'work at as a vocation' (Webster's, 'do' definition #13).
The real answer is that we say that because it is a stereotyped discoursal expression. We are always free to say instead, 'what is your occupation?'-- but we usually don't.
The real answer is that we say that because it is a stereotyped discoursal expression. We are always free to say instead, 'what is your occupation?'-- but we usually don't.
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