Does "what is it that you do" mean the same as "what do you do"?

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Yes, "what is it that you do?" expresses the same general meaning as "what do you do?". There is just a slight difference in nuance between these two phrases. "What is it that you do " is a little more informal and can sometimes be used to imply that the person asking does not think the other person does anything that important. However, it is not always used with this intention and often depends on the tone of voice.

How do native speakers use this expression?

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Popular Q&As

11/16

1
Why is "ing" put after "to" here?
This sentence is in present progressive tense and so the verb is put in -ing form to indicate that the action is going to continue on. The progressive tense is not generally used after the preposition "to" in a sentence except after the phrase "close to". Ex: I was so close to falling asleep when the dog started barking. Ex: You are so close to winning the race - keep going!

2
What does "Grotto" mean?
A "grotto" is a noun that means a cave, usually in a garden or park. Here, it's just used as a name! Although there is a cave in The Little Mermaid, so maybe he was thinking of that. Ex: Have you seen the grotto down at the park? It's quite picturesque. Ex: There is a shrine called "The Grotto" in Oregon, USA.

3
What does "mess up" mean? and what else can I use instead of "mess up"?
"Mess up" means "make mistakes" or "ruin", depending on the context. You can say "make mistakes" instead of "mess up" when referring to a person's actions, and use "ruin" when something physical is being distorted. Ex: I always make mistakes when taking tests! Ex: I ruined my shoes when I stepped in mud. Ex: The wind messed up my hair. Ex: It won't be too long until the new guy messes up.

4
Is it ok to say "pull off the truck" instead of "pull the track off"?
Technically, you can say "pull off the truck" here instead of "pull the truck off." However, native speakers tend to use consistent grammar patterns when speaking. He says "grab a winch" here [verb + article + noun], so it sounds more natural to say "pull the truck off," with the article following the verb. Ex: Grab a plate and serve the food. [Verb + article + noun] Ex: Take a basket and select some items. [Verb + article/determiner + noun]

5
What does "shaman" mean?
A "shaman" is someone who is believed to be able to communicate with spirits or nature. In tribal cultures, the "shaman" is usually the spiritual/religious center of the community and is someone the other tribe members ask for wisdom and answers to their questions about life. Ex: When they don't know what to do, the members of the tribe ask the shaman. Ex: It is said that this tribe's shaman can talk to animals and guides the spirits of the dead to the afterlife.

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