When someone takes my pencil, how can I ask them why they did it?
Is it Why are you taking it? or
Why do you take it?
I don't know what the difference between these two sentences is.
Learn English – ‘Why do you take it?’ versus ‘Why are you taking it?’
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Best Answer
This is the difference between the simple present tense, "Why do you take it?" and the present progressive tense, "Why are you taking it?".
The simple present tense is generally used for recurring actions. The present progressive is generally used for actions occurring right now.
So if you say "Why do you take it?" you are asking about a regular action, which probably happened before. If you say "Why are you taking it?" you are talking about only this current instance of taking.