What are you doing (for) this weekend?

hirashin

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8 Apr 2004

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• 4 Jun 2017

• #1

Dear native English speakers,
Which would be used?
(a1) What are you going to do this weekend?
(a2) What are you going to do for this weekend?
(b1) What are you doing this weekend?
(b2) What are you doing for this weekend?
(c1) What will you do this weekend?
(c2) What will you do for this weekend?
(d1) What will you be doing this weekend?
(d2) What will you be doing for this weekend?

If both (1) and (2) are possible, what's the difference between them?

Hirashin

 

mdchachi

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• 5 Jun 2017

• #2

I think they are both possible and have the same meaning. I don't think I would say "for this weekend" though.

 

hirashin

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• #3

Thanks for the help, mdchachi.

 

J

johnnyG

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• #4

I don't like the (2) versions, "for" should not be used there.

You could of course say "I'm going to Tokyo for the weekend," or "I need to get ready for the weekend," but the OP examples (2) sound off. Maybe "this" has something to do with it?

Also okay: "I'm going to Tokyo for a weekend trip," or I need to get ready for a weekend trip to ~ ."

 

hirashin

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• #5

Thanks for the help, johnnyG. Hmm...it's difficult to judge whether or not you can use "for".

johnnyG said:

You could of course say "I'm going to Tokyo for the weekend," or "I need to get ready for the weekend," but the OP examples (2) sound off. Maybe "this" has something to do with it?

Click to expand...

If so, would these sentences sound right?
(a3) What are you going to do for the weekend?
(b3) What are you doing for the weekend?
(c3) What will you do for the weekend?
(d3) What will you be doing for the weekend?

 

J

johnnyG

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• 6 Jun 2017

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In isolation, those sound odd. But if you contextualize, and prefix each with something like: "It's the 4th of July on Saturday, ~ " then they sound okay.

In that case (in all of those) "over" would be good, too. And "over" in place of "for" makes those questions sound okay on their own.

(a3) What are you going to do over the weekend?
(b3) What are you doing over the weekend?
(c3) What will you do over the weekend?
(d3) What will you be doing over the weekend?

 

hirashin

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• 9 Jul 2017

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• #7

Thanks, johnnyG.