Return to Question

This is a common IELTS exam question: do you play any sports?

How do you answer that if you're a professional swimmer? In my mind 'playing sports' implies team sports (I play football, I play basketball, etc.), you don't say "I play swimming".

So, the the point:

• Do you play any sports?
• I do/I don't...

Yes, they do expect you to answer "do you..." questions with "I do, I don't...".

To clarify the English question:

• The relevant dictionary definition of "play" is to engage in sport or recreation; to engage or take part in a game (M-W). This is a very generic definition that doesn't address the nuances of the sentence so it isn't helpful in answering this question.
• The verb "play" is not normally associated with swimming (in my mind it is used with team sports).
• "Do you play...?" implies that the expected response will of a yes/no nature reflecting exactly what was asked--"I do play..." or "I don't play...", or words to that effect.
• So what is the contextual meaning and implication of the word "play" within this sentence and how does it affect what must be the appropriate response; i.e.:
  • Does it define (limit) the question to asking about team sports only, which would exclude swimming?
  • If it could include swimming, how can an answer of a matching construction be grammatically correct (the "I play swimming" issue)?
  • What would an appropriate answer for swimming look like?

This is a common IELTS speaking exam question: Do you play any sports?

How do you answer that if you're a professional swimmer? In my mind 'playing sports' implies team sports (I play football, I play basketball, etc.), you don't say "I play swimming".

So, the point:

• Do you play any sports?
• I do/I don't...

Yes, they do expect you to answer "do you..." questions with "I do, I don't...".

Updated to clarify:

• Merriam-Webster's definition of "play" is: to engage in sport or recreation; to engage or take part in a game . This is a very generic definition that doesn't particularly help in answering this question.
• As I mentioned previously, the verb "play" is not normally associated with swimming (in my mind it is used with team sports).
• "Do you play...?" implies a yes/no type of answer – "Yes, I do play..." or "No, I don't play...".

So, how should I respond?

• Does it limit the question to asking about team sports only, which would exclude swimming?
• If it could include swimming, how can an answer of a matching construction be grammatically correct (the "I play swimming" issue)?
• What would an appropriate answer for swimming look like?

This is a common IELTS exam question: do you play any sports?

How do you answer that if you're a professional swimmer? In my mind 'playing sports' implies team sports (I play football, I play basketball, etc.), you don't say "I play swimming".

So, the the point:

• Do you play any sports?
• I do/I don't...

Yes, they do expect you to answer "do you..." questions with "I do, I don't...".

To clarify the English question:

• The relevant dictionary definition of "play" is to engage in sport or recreation; to engage or take part in a game. This is a very generic definition that doesn't address the nuances of the sentence so it isn't helpful in answering this question.
• The verb "play" is not normally associated with swimming (in my mind it is used with team sports).
• "Do you play...?" implies that the expected response will of a yes/no nature reflecting exactly what was asked--"I do play..." or "I don't play...", or words to that effect.
• So what is the contextual meaning and implication of the word "play" within this sentence and how does it affect what must be the appropriate response; i.e.:
  • Does it define (limit) the question to asking about team sports only, which would exclude swimming?
  • If it could include swimming, how can an answer of a matching construction be grammatically correct (the "I play swimming" issue)?
  • What would an appropriate answer for swimming look like?

This is a common IELTS exam question: do you play any sports?

How do you answer that if you're a professional swimmer? In my mind 'playing sports' implies team sports (I play football, I play basketball, etc.), you don't say "I play swimming".

So, the the point:

• Do you play any sports?
• I do/I don't...

Yes, they do expect you to answer "do you..." questions with "I do, I don't...".

To clarify the English question:

• The relevant dictionary definition of "play" is to engage in sport or recreation; to engage or take part in a game (M-W). This is a very generic definition that doesn't address the nuances of the sentence so it isn't helpful in answering this question.
• The verb "play" is not normally associated with swimming (in my mind it is used with team sports).
• "Do you play...?" implies that the expected response will of a yes/no nature reflecting exactly what was asked--"I do play..." or "I don't play...", or words to that effect.
• So what is the contextual meaning and implication of the word "play" within this sentence and how does it affect what must be the appropriate response; i.e.:
  • Does it define (limit) the question to asking about team sports only, which would exclude swimming?
  • If it could include swimming, how can an answer of a matching construction be grammatically correct (the "I play swimming" issue)?
  • What would an appropriate answer for swimming look like?

This is a common IELTS exam question: do you play any sports?

How do you answer that if you're a professional swimmer? In my mind 'playing sports' implies team sports (I play football, I play basketball, etc.), you don't say "I play swimming".

So, the the point:

• Do you play any sports?
• I do/I don't...

Yes, they do expect you to answer "do you..." questions with "I do, I don't...".

To clarify the English question:

• The relevant dictionary definition of "play" is to engage in sport or recreation; to engage or take part in a game. This is a very generic definition that doesn't address the nuances of the sentence so it isn't helpful in answering this question.
• The verb "play" is not normally associated with swimming (in my mind it is used with team sports).
• "Do you play...?" implies that the expected response will of a yes/no nature reflecting exactly what was asked--"I do play..." or "I don't play...", or words to that effect.
• So what is the contextual meaning and implication of the word "play" within this sentence and how does it affect what must be the appropriate response?
  • Does it define (limit) the question to asking about team sports only, which would exclude swimming?
  • If it could include swimming, how can an answer of a matching construction be grammatically correct (the "I play swimming" issue)?
  • What would an appropriate answer for swimming look like?

This is a common IELTS exam question: do you play any sports?

How do you answer that if you're a professional swimmer? In my mind 'playing sports' implies team sports (I play football, I play basketball, etc.), you don't say "I play swimming".

So, the the point:

• Do you play any sports?
• I do/I don't...

Yes, they do expect you to answer "do you..." questions with "I do, I don't...".

To clarify the English question:

• The relevant dictionary definition of "play" is to engage in sport or recreation; to engage or take part in a game. This is a very generic definition that doesn't address the nuances of the sentence so it isn't helpful in answering this question.
• The verb "play" is not normally associated with swimming (in my mind it is used with team sports).
• "Do you play...?" implies that the expected response will of a yes/no nature reflecting exactly what was asked--"I do play..." or "I don't play...", or words to that effect.
• So what is the contextual meaning and implication of the word "play" within this sentence and how does it affect what must be the appropriate response; i.e.:
  • Does it define (limit) the question to asking about team sports only, which would exclude swimming?
  • If it could include swimming, how can an answer of a matching construction be grammatically correct (the "I play swimming" issue)?
  • What would an appropriate answer for swimming look like?