Today we answer a question from Emad.
今天我們將回答來自伊馬德的提問。
He writes, 「I would like to know the difference between what do you do? and what are you doing?
他寫道：「我想知道「What Do You Do？」和「What Are You Doing?」這兩句話的區別。
When do you use both?」
什麼時候用這兩句話？」
Dear Emad,Those are excellent questions.
親愛的伊馬德：問得非常好。
One question is about a person's work or profession, and the other is about what action a person is doing at the moment, or in the near future.
這兩個問題，一個是對某人的工作或職業進行提問，另一個是對某人當時或不久的將來在做什麼進行提問。
We will take the work example first.
我們將首先以對工作的提問為例。
Imagine that you meet someone at a party.
假設你在聚會上遇到某人。
The person asks you: 『What do you do?』
對方問你：『What do you do?』（ 『你是做什麼的？』）
What they mean is: 『What do you do for a living? Or 『What is your profession?』
他們的意思是：『你以什麼謀生？』 或『你的職業是什麼？』
You would answer them by stating the kind of work you do, like this:「I am a writer,」 or 「I am a doctor」 or 「I drive abus.」
你可以回答他們你所做的工作，例如：「我是作家」或「我是醫生」或「我開公共汽車」。
Now, on to the other question.
現在，轉到另一個問題。
Maybe you get a phone call and your friend asks:「What are you doing?」
可能你接到一個電話，你的朋友問：「你在做什麼？」
They are not asking what you do for aliving, but what activity are you doing at that time.
他們不是在問你以什麼謀生，而是在那時你正在做什麼活動。
Your answer might be something like this:「I'm reading a book. It's great!」
你可能這樣回答：「我在讀一本書。書很棒！」
Or 「I'm cooking dinner for the family.」
或者「我正在為家人做飯。」
Sometimes, the question 「What do you do…」may include a day or period of time.
有時，提問「What do you do…」 時間上可能涵蓋一天或一段時間。
For example, someone may ask, 「What do you do on weekends?」
例如，有人可能會問：「What do you do on weekends?」（ 「你周末做什麼？」 ）
In this case, they are asking what activities you usually do on weekends.
在這種情況下，他們問的是你通常在周末做什麼活動。
They are not asking about your profession.
而不是在問你的職業。
Here is an example of what you might say:「I usually take things easy, go out with friends or do other activities, like exercise or go for a run.」
你可能會這樣說：「我通常會做些輕鬆的事情，和朋友外出或進行其他活動，比如鍛鍊或跑步。」
However, when you add a time period to「What are you doing?,」 you are asking what activity the person is doing at a specific time in the near future.
但是，如果在提問「What are you doing?」中加上時間段，就是在問某人在不久的將來某一特定時間內正在從事的活動。
Here is an example:「What are you doing after work today?」
例如：「今天下班後你要做什麼？」
One might say:「I am thinking of going out to dinner.
這個人可能會說：「我正在考慮出去吃晚餐。
Do you want to come with me?」
你想和我一起去嗎？」
And That' s Ask a Teacher!
以上就是本期《名師答疑》的全部內容。
I'm Anne Ball.
我是安妮·鮑爾。