doing fine

[stuupid]

A: How is your children?
B: Fine thanks. Yes, they are doing fine.

I'm wondering what "do" means in "doing fine?"

 

[Uncle Jack]

It doesn't refer to any specific action, but to how they are getting on with life generally. "Do" is the usual verb with "fine", although it is often omitted, as it is in B's initial response. In any case, "be" and "do" are often interchangeable in conventional greetings, and a "be" question ("How are you?", for example) might be answered with a "do" answer ("I'm doing fine") or a "do" question ("How are you doing?") might be answered with a "be" answer ("I'm well, thank you").

A's sentence is wrong. It should be "How are your children?" because "children" is plural.

 

[stuupid]

It doesn't refer to any specific action, but to how they are getting on with life generally. "Do" is the usual verb with "fine", although it is often omitted, as it is in B's initial response. In any case, "be" and "do" are often interchangeable in conventional greetings, and a "be" question ("How are you?", for example) might be answered with a "do" answer ("I'm doing fine") or a "do" question ("How are you doing?") might be answered with a "be" answer ("I'm well, thank you").

A's sentence is wrong. It should be "How are your children?" because "children" is plural.

Thank you, Uncle Jack. I'm wondering what "do" actually means there? Doesn't it have a sense?

 

[Rover_KE]

get along/get on/fare

 

[RM1(SS)]

WRF Random House Learner's:

17. to get along;
fare;
manage: [no object]
How are you doing at work?

 

[Myridon]

Note: How are your children?