querie about masu and te imasu

[Amirichi]

Wats the difference between

ima nani o shimasuka and ima nani o shite imasuka


?? =}

i know te + iru goes for continuation / resulting verbs, but i cant get my head around between the difference.

Also to note, i know that for the first one, it could mean wat r u gonna be doing now (in a future kind of sense). But the masu form could also mean a general question of the verb (habitual).

So please, fill me in depth thanks

[jkid]

Wats the difference between

ima nani o shimasuka and ima nani o shite imasuka

Amirichi-san,

ima nani o shimasuka means "What will you do now?"

ima nani o shite imasuka means "What are you doing now?" because -te imasu is used to describe a progressive state.

But the masu form could also mean a general question of the verb (habitual).

I am not sure exactly what you mean by a general question of the verb but -masu is not used to indicate habitual actions. This kind of action is indicated by -te imasu.

Please have a look at: http://japanese.about.com/blqow37.htm hopefully it will clear stuff up for you.

[Amirichi]

but my textbook / teacher said to us at the beginning of the year that masu form can either talk about future action or a habitual action.

For example

Hon wo yomimasuka? --> Could have either meaning depending on the circumstance

1. (Habitual) Do you read books? (note the implication is very relaxed/generally asking)

2. Future Tense Will you read the book?



This explanation is confirmed by my teacher, which brings me back to my first post. (forget 'ima', that word mightve actualy initiated my confusion)


nani wo shimasuka =
1. [Habitual] So, what do you do? ~~~~

2. Future Tense What are you gonna do?




If all else fails, im just gunna have to suck it up and disregard the 'habitual' terminology asociated with Masu form.

cheers.

[Psy]

Ah, I think I follow here. There's a bit of an emphasis shift goin' on:

"hon wo yomimasu ka?" (do you read books?)
"mainichi hon wo yondeimasu ka?" (do you read books every day?)
"donna hon wo yomimasu ka" (what kinds of books do you read?)
"donna hon wo yondeimasu ka" (what kinds of books are you reading [these days]?)

Without -teiru it isn't established that you read books, whereas with -teiru it has been established and you're asking for further information. Personally I wouldn't call the first form a "habitual," but to each his own way of teaching.

That's my take, anyways.

[Amirichi]

oooo thanks for ur reply! yeh those examples are perfect for what i mean. I guess the Masu form is quiet flexible, but for this particular case the word most likely shouldnt be habitual, rather more "in General".

[Javizy]

Just to point out, the difference is between the non-past and the -teiru forms; the masu-form is just an additional conjugation used in polite situations. In case you thought it had some other grammatical powers or something.