I am doing CAE in Buenos Aires in my mock exam I said "I do diving". My teacher didin't like it at all. However, I found it widely used. Is it a wrong use of English or very informal ?
Thanks in advance Alejandro Mandl
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1Related: Playing sports - does swimming count?– Arm the good guys in AmericaCommented Jul 16, 2017 at 14:35
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4It's more idiomatic to say "I dive".– Dan BronCommented Jul 16, 2017 at 14:36
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Please indicate your research.– Arm the good guys in AmericaCommented Jul 16, 2017 at 14:36
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1@DanBron Or, "I go diving"?– NVZ ♦Commented Jul 16, 2017 at 14:37
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1Alejandro, it's informal and hackneyed. If you're saying it to be cool, you're failing. Just say I go diving, I dive, One of my interests/pastimes is diving, I like to dive, Diving is a hobby of mine, I love to go diving.....– Arm the good guys in AmericaCommented Jul 16, 2017 at 14:59
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1 Answer
It's better to say, 'I dive'. You don't need to add 'do' before verbs. The only time it's really necessary to add 'do' is if you are emphasising the verb, e.g. someone says, 'You don't dive' and you want to correct them, 'I do dive', or if the activity is a noun, e.g. 'I do paintings' (although, 'I paint paintings' would be preferable).