Question
Updated on
2 Dec 2022
- Simplified Chinese (China)
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English (US)
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English (UK)
Question about English (US)
What is the difference between what shall we havefor dinner? and what do we have for dinner? ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between what shall we havefor dinner? and what do we have for dinner? ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
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2 Dec 2022
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- English (US)
The meanings are similar but slightly different.
“What shall we have for dinner?” ≈ “What should we have for dinner?”
“What do we have for dinner?” ≈ “What options do we have for dinner?”
“What are we having for dinner?” Dinner has already been decided, and you’re asking what it is.
Also, “shall” is very rare in American English. It sounds formal / old-fashioned. It’s more common in British English.
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- English (US)
same thing. shall is more formal. shall is something you would say if you were hosting a dinner party or something.
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- Simplified Chinese (China)
@nicalibresatdusk oh. Thank you. so if I'm at home and asking my mom, it's ok juat say : ehat do we have for dinner? isn't it a littlebit rude?
- English (US)
not rude but maybe say it as, "what's for dinner (tonight)?"
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- English (US)
The meanings are similar but slightly different.
“What shall we have for dinner?” ≈ “What should we have for dinner?”
“What do we have for dinner?” ≈ “What options do we have for dinner?”
“What are we having for dinner?” Dinner has already been decided, and you’re asking what it is.
Also, “shall” is very rare in American English. It sounds formal / old-fashioned. It’s more common in British English.
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- Simplified Chinese (China)
@Anivia cool answer!!! i definitely will pay more attention when people answering these questions to get a better understanding, thank you, dear.
- Simplified Chinese (China)
- English (US)
@yoyov51234 You’re welcome! In response to your other, previous comment:
I personally would say: “What are we having for dinner?”
One other possibility is: “What’s for dinner tonight?”
These do not sound rude :)
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- Simplified Chinese (China)
@Anivia got it. cause it's mom's decision on dinner, we get what we get. Maybe if i eat in a cafeteria, i can ask my coworker (if she has come back from there), what we have for dinner? 😄
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