What does What are you doing mean? Meaning and how to respond What are you doing in English

What are you doing is one of the common phrases in English. So, what is the meaning, usage, structure, and how to respond to the question What are you doing? Let's find out in detail with PREP in today's article!

I. What does What are you doing mean?

What does What are you doing mean? In English, What are you doing is a question that is expressed in the present continuous tense using the V-ing grammatical structure. Additionally, you can also add adverbs at the end of the question to convey a more complete meaning.

The present continuous question What are you doing is used to inquire about an action happening at that moment and still in progress. Therefore, the answer depends on the action being performed.

For example:

• What are you doing now? - I am currently working on a project for my company. 

• What are you doing at the moment? - I am preparing dinner at the moment. 

• What are you doing in San Diego city? - I am visiting historical landmarks. 

Now you understand the meaning of the question What are you doing, right? Let's explore the grammar structure and appropriate responses in the following sections with PREP!

II. Present continuous grammar structure

Before learning how to answer the question What are you doing, let's understand the grammar structure of the present continuous tense!

1. Present continuous question

Present continuous questions can be divided into two main types: questions using question words and yes/no questions.

1.1. Questions using question words

The question What are you doing belongs to the type of question using question words. Therefore, question words in English include How, When, Where, Who, What, Why, etc., which will be placed at the beginning of the sentence. Structure:

Question words + am/is/are + S + V-ing?

For example:

• What are you doing in school? 

• How are you feeling today? 

• Why are they laughing? 

• When are you leaving? 

1.2. Yes/No questions

In English, the yes/no form of the present continuous question has the following structure:

Am/Is/Are + S + V-ing?

For example:

• Is he watching a movie? 

• Are they playing soccer in the park? 

• Am I interrupting you? 

2. Present continuous affirmative/negative

2.1. Present continuous affirmative

Structure:

S + am/ is/ are + V-ing

For example:

• They are playing basketball in the park. 

• I am running on the treadmill at the gym. 

• We are watching a movie at the cinema. 

• He is playing the guitar in his room. 

2.2. Present continuous negative

Structure:

S + am/ is/ are + not + V-ing

For example:

• I am not wearing a jacket. 

• They are not running in the race. 

• He is not working at the moment. 

• They are not studying French. 

III. How to respond to the question What are you doing

So, how do you accurately respond to the question What are you doing? The question What are you doing is asking about the present continuous tense, so the answer will be based on the action you are currently doing. Apply the structure of the present continuous tense as follows:

I’m/ I am + V-ing = What am I doing

For example:

• I am cooking dinner for my family. 

• I am writing a blog post. 

• I am taking a walk in the park. 

• I am talking to my friend on the phone.

• I am watching a movie at home.

Note: The formation of the V-ing verb should follow the correct -ING suffix rules in English.

Now you know how to respond to the question What are you doing, right?

IV. How to emphasize stress when asking What are you doing

The meaning of the question What are you doing depends on the intonation and emphasis in the question from the asker and the responder. Let's explore it together!

1. Case of stress in the question

In some cases, the speaker may emphasize the tone of the word "doing" at the end of the question or emphasize the word "you." This creates a tense atmosphere in the question, or even expresses frustration, annoyance, or dissatisfaction with the other person.

Therefore, in this case, the responder should provide an explanation for why they are doing the action in their answer.

For example:

• A: What are you doing? 

• B: I'm sorry, I was just checking my email on your computer. I didn't mean to invade your privacy. 

2. Case of stress in the answer

When the responder wants to emphasize the action they are currently engaged in, the stress in the sentence will be on the verb that indicates that action.

For example:

• I am writing a poem. 

• He is FIXing the broken chair. 

• We are PAINTing a mural on the wall. 

Additionally, if the responder wants to emphasize the subject performing the action, they will stress the subject in their answer.

For example: I am completing the project, not him. ➡ Emphasize that it's me, not him, who's completing the project.

V. Similar ways to ask What are you doing

In addition to the question What are you doing native speakers also use the phrase "What are you up to?" when asking about what someone is currently doing or preparing to do. This is another way of saying What are you doing but it carries a more friendly and intimate tone in daily communication.

When asked the question "What are you up to?" the listener should respond based on the current action they are doing or preparing to do, using the present continuous tense structure similar to how they would answer the question What are you doing

For example:

• What are you up to? - I am going to the supermarket to buy some food. 

• What are you up to? - I am practicing playing the piano. 

• What are you up to? - I am thinking about what to do during the vacation. 

VI. Distinguishing What are you doing and How are you doing

Some learners often confuse the two questions What are you doing and How are you doing? So, what are the differences in meaning and usage between How are you doing? and What are you doing Let's differentiate them in detail!

Please remember the differences between How are you doing? and What are you doing in order to use them accurately in English!

VII. Dialogue using What are you doing

After learning about the concept and theoretical structure of the question and answer What are you doing, let's look at some practical dialogues below to better understand how to use What are you doing in communication!

The article above has provided a comprehensive compilation of detailed knowledge about the meaning, usage, structure, and how to answer the question What are you doing Remember to save it for effective exam preparation! Wishing all the Preppies success!