One of the most frequently asked questions in English would probably be, “What are you doing?” It might seem like a simple question asking what you are doing at the moment. In reality, the person asking this question might expect a certain answer depending on the context or tone. In this article, we will go over the situations when a person might ask, “What are you doing?” and good examples of replies to this question.
Meaning of What Are You Doing?
The meaning of “What are you doing?” can vary a lot depending on the tone of the question. here are some situations where someone might ask “What are you doing?” along with the different tones and expected responses:
Casual Tone
- Situation: A lady approaches her friend waiting at a coffee shop and asks the question.
- Tone: Friendly and relaxed.
- Expected Response: “Oh, just catching up on some reading while waiting for you!”
Curious Tone
- Situation: Watching someone working on a project.
- Tone: Interested and intrigued.
- Expected Response: “I’m working on this new painting. Want to see?”
Concerned Tone
- Situation: Seeing someone pacing back and forth anxiously.
- Tone: Worried and caring.
- Expected Response: “I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed lately. You don’t have to worry about me.”
Suspicious Tone
- Situation: Noticing someone acting secretive.
- Tone: Distrustful or skeptical.
- Expected Response: “Just sorting through some paperwork. Why, what’s up?”
Playful Tone
- Situation: Witnessing someone doing something silly or unexpected.
- Tone: Light-hearted and teasing.
- Expected Response: “Just practicing my dance moves! Care to join?”
Strict or Angry Tone
- Situation: A teacher catching a student not paying attention in class.
- Tone: Authoritative and stern.
- Expected Response: “I’m sorry, teacher.”
Flirtatious Tone
- Situation: Flirting with someone you’re interested in.
- Tone: Flirty and suggestive.
- Expected Response: “Just thinking about you. How about we go grab dinner tonight?”
Different Ways to Ask “What Are You Doing?”
Here are some alternative ways to ask what someone is doing.
- What are you up to?
- What’s up?
- Whatcha doing?
- What’s going on?
- What are you busy with?
- What’s keeping you busy?
- What are you working on?
- What are you currently into?
- How are you spending your time?
- What’s happening?
How to Reply to “What Are You Doing?”
The most important things you should consider when replying to “what are you doing?” are the context and tone listed above. Once you know what type of answer the person is expecting, build your response by starting with “I’m [verb]+ing.” Add details to improve the sentence and provide the necessary information. Following are some examples of how to respond to the question.
- Just cooking dinner for the family.
- Watching a movie and relaxing on the couch.
- Heading out for a run to clear my mind.
- Studying for my upcoming exams.
- Writing in my journal, reflecting on the day.
- Working on a new painting in my studio.
- Attending a virtual meeting for work.
- Playing video games with friends online.
- Practicing guitar to learn a new song.
- Having a picnic in the park with friends.
- Volunteering at the local animal shelter.
- Reading a book under a cozy blanket.
- Exploring a new hiking trail in the mountains.
- Tidying up my room and organizing my belongings.
- Baking cookies for a charity bake sale.
- Learning a new language through online courses.
- Gardening and planting flowers in the backyard.
- Attending a yoga class for some relaxation.
- Building a model airplane in my workshop.
- Taking care of my plants and doing some gardening.
- Attending a live concert downtown with friends.
- Preparing for an upcoming presentation at work.
- Experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
- Taking my dog for a walk in the neighborhood.
- Planning a surprise party for my friend’s birthday.
- Working on a DIY project to redecorate my room.
- Doing some online shopping for household items.
- Enjoying a peaceful afternoon reading in the garden.
- Training for an upcoming marathon.
- Researching vacation destinations for my next trip.
FAQs About Asking What Someone is Doing
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about asking what somebody is doing in English.
How should I reply to “what are you doing?”
First, try to understand the context and tone of the question. If the person is casually asking about what you are doing at the moment, answer by saying “I’m [verb]+ing.”
What is the best answer to “what do you do?”
The question “What do you do?” isn’t asking what you are doing. It’s asking what you do for a living. In other words, “What is your job or career?” You can reply to “What do you do?” by saying, “I am a [job title]”, “I work for [company]”, or “I do [job description].”
How do you say “what are you doing” in text?
People like to use text abbreviations for fun and convenience. If you want to ask, “What are you doing?” in text slang form, send “WYD.”
Is WYD flirting?
The text message “WYD” can be flirty depending on the person and context. If it is someone who likes you, there is a good chance of the sender flirting with you by sending the WYD message. If you want to be flirty as well, try responding by saying something like “Just plotting how to steal your attention 😉 What about you?”
Which is correct: What are you doing or what you are doing?
“What are you doing?” is the grammatically correct way to ask. However, you can informally ask the same question by saying, “What you doin’?”
More Speaking Resources
- 20 Ways to Say Have a Good Day in English
- 30 Ways to Say Happy Birthday | Birthday Wishes
- How Have You Been: Meaning and How to Reply in English
- 50+ Funny What If Questions to Ask Friends
What R U Doing: Join the Conversation
Let’s imagine your friend asks you WYD. How would you reply to the question? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.
