English Language & Usage Asked by this on July 24, 2021
In this exchange:
A: I’m having trouble finding my car.
B: Of course you are.
I think this sentence could also be used, keeping the same meaning: Of course you do.
I don’t see any difference between the two, but I feel like there should be? If it is, under what circumstances would you use the do version?
( Is there a rule for that? )
Compare
Of course you do having trouble finding your car.
with
Of course you are having trouble finding your car.
If A uses “having” (present continuous?), then B's answer should be in the same tense.
The other form would be:
A: I have trouble finding my car.
B: Of course you do.
Correct answer by Celery Man on July 24, 2021
Rule One: If the verb is modal*, then match the verb:
The verb used is to be (I am/I'm, You are/You're/, He is, etc.) because the verb in the first sentence is am though contracted to I'm.
The response therefore would use that verb too, but in the second person; you are or you're.
We tend not to end on contractions, so "Of course you're" would be strange, and so it's "Of course you are".
Rule Two: If the verb is not an modal, then you use do.
I found my car.
*Of course you found. [Incorrect]
Of course you did.
Rule Three: If the verb is not followed by an object or preposition, and ends the sentence, then you can choose between the two:
I don't dance.
Of course you dance.
Of course you don't.
*The modal verbs are be, can, could, dare, do, may, might, must, need, ought, shall, should, will and would.
Answered by Jon Hanna on July 24, 2021
Get help from others!
Recent Questions
Recent Answers
© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP