A: Where is she?
B: She's having coffee at Starbucks over there. / She's drinking coffee at Starbucks over there.
- Hi guys! Between the first answer and the second answer, which one sounds more suitable in this situation?
Thanks a lot!
StevenLoan
Having Drinking
Having Drinking
ACCESS_POST_ACTIONSRe: Having Drinking
To my ear, they're equally normal and acceptable.
The 'drinking' formulation would be preferable if you wanted to be specific about what she had intended to do. If she's 'having coffee', she might actually have ordered a cup of tea. That said, this is a trivial distinction.
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The 'drinking' formulation would be preferable if you wanted to be specific about what she had intended to do. If she's 'having coffee', she might actually have ordered a cup of tea. That said, this is a trivial distinction.

Re: Having Drinking
The second sounds slightly odd rather than "She's drinking coffee at Starbucks over there" I would use "She's having coffee at Starbucks over there". To use "drinking" seem to provide an emphasis to the action that suggests it is an inappropriate action. "She's drinking coffee and she knows that she should not be having caffeine".
A variation is to accentuate difference. "They went to have drinks at the pub. She is the one drinking coffee."
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A variation is to accentuate difference. "They went to have drinks at the pub. She is the one drinking coffee."
Signature: tony
I'm puzzled therefore I think.
I'm puzzled therefore I think.
Re: Having Drinking
Erik and tony h : Thank you both very much for your help. I really appreciate it.
StevenLoan
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StevenLoan
Re: Having Drinking
I prefer this construction, and note the "a".
She's over there in Starbucks having a coffee.
She's over there in Starbucks drinking a coffee.
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She's over there in Starbucks having a coffee.
She's over there in Starbucks drinking a coffee.
Signature: All those years gone to waist!
Bob in Wales
Re: Having Drinking
Bob : Thanks a lot for adding your two suggestions.
StevenLoan
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StevenLoan
Re: Having Drinking
Your use of "a" gets around the point that Erik made earlier. "having coffee" may be tea and cake, "having a coffee" will be having a coffee. Albeit one of those cafeMochaLatteFrappeAmericano coffees.Bobinwales wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2019 10:36 pmI prefer this construction, and note the "a".
She's over there in Starbucks having a coffee.
She's over there in Starbucks drinking a coffee.
Signature: tony
I'm puzzled therefore I think.
I'm puzzled therefore I think.
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