Bubokribuck Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
What you do is/was what I did.
Hi everyone, I've got a problem with the following sentences:
1. What you do is what I did.
2. What you do was what I did.
So suppose B did a thing, and A is doing it now, how should I write it? Which one is correct? Or are they both correct? If so, what's the difference?
3. What you are doing is what I did.
4. What you are doing was what I did.
If to compare 3 and 4, 3 certaintly sounds more logical to me. But when it comes to comparing 1 and 2, strangely I think 2 sounds more sensible.
Your suggestion?
1. What you do is what I did.
2. What you do was what I did.
So suppose B did a thing, and A is doing it now, how should I write it? Which one is correct? Or are they both correct? If so, what's the difference?
3. What you are doing is what I did.
4. What you are doing was what I did.
If to compare 3 and 4, 3 certaintly sounds more logical to me. But when it comes to comparing 1 and 2, strangely I think 2 sounds more sensible.
Your suggestion?
Top answer
bubokribuck So suppose B did a thing, and A is doing it now, how should I write it? What you are doing is what I did. It's this one.
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bubokribuckSo suppose B did a thing, and A is doing it now, how should I write it? ... What you are doing is what I did.It's this one.
CJ
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Just to elaborate on CalifJim, You are using the progressive form that emphasizes an ongoing action. This is made of a form of "to be" plus a verb ending in -ing (is doing). By this you have established that the agent is doing it now, it is an ongoing action, and so the tense must consequently be present, therefore "is". Thus the correct answer is: What you are doing is what I did.
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Do neither 1 or 2 is correct gramatically? (Just based on pure grammer, as 4 is gramtically incorrect).
So I suppose the first sentences of the following is correct, the second one is wrong, right?
1. The songs you are listening to are the ones I downloaded this morning. (correct)
2. The songs you are listening to were the ones I downloaded this morning. (incorrect)
So I suppose the first sentences of the following is correct, the second one is wrong, right?
1. The songs you are listening to are the ones I downloaded this morning. (correct)
2. The songs you are listening to were the ones I downloaded this morning. (incorrect)
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bubokribuckSo I suppose the first sentences of the following is correct, the second one is wrong, right?What you suppose is correct.
CJ
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