It could for the first ("where do we go now"), but not for the second, as far as I can remember.
It's dark. We're lost. What do we do now?
What is it that you don't understand about those sentences.
It's dark. We're lost. Where do we go now? What do we do now?
In these sentences they are talking about their plans/intentions. I don't understand why Present Simple is used instead of Present Continuous.
Both tenses can be used to talk about plans but in grammar books it's stated we use Present Simple when we talk about fixed plans/arrangements (like in timetables etc.) and Present Continuous when we talk about plans for the near future, they can change. Moreover, in the sentence above there's 'now' - a time expression used with Present Continuous. So why P Simple instead of P Continuous is used here? Is there any logical explanation?
It's dark. We're lost. Where do we go now? What do we do now?
In these sentences they are talking about their plans/intentions. I don't understand why Present Simple is used instead of Present Continuous.
Both tenses can be used to talk about plans but in grammar books it's stated we use Present Simple when we talk about fixed plans/arrangements (like in timetables etc.) and Present Continuous when we talk about plans for the near future, they can change. Moreover, in the sentence above there's 'now' - a time expression used with Present Continuous. So why P Simple instead of P Continuous is used here? Is there any logical explanation?
The present continuous wouldn't work there. They have reached a point where they don't know what to do or where to go. They are not doing anything or going anywhere. The present simple is the best choice. The future could also work.
But what about rules? What about logic? I know that using any language is to some extent very intuitive but the more often I speak English the more often I am confused.
There is a different sense here. "What do we do now?" is a plea more than a question. It is about knowing that we don't know what to do.
Say you walk out of a shop and your car is missing. You're miles from home and your phone was in your car.
You don't ask "what are we doing now?"
You ask "What do we do now?"
English is tough. And "rules'will not always solve your problems. See Soothing Dave's comments. We have both tried to explain the logic of the construction.
Thank you Mike You and Soothing Dave have done your best to explain the problem to me I really appreciate your help. I wish English was less tough. To be honest I don't find it fun any more. What a shame ...
Thank you Mike You and Soothing Dave have done your best to explain the problem to me I really appreciate your help. I wish English was less tough. To be honest I don't find it fun any more. What a shame ...
Keep working at it, marker. You will get better each day.