Whatever you're going -- don't!

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi, can any please tell me whether “don’t” in ‘Jimmy, whatever you’re doing, don’t’ is short for ‘don’t be doing it’ or ‘don’t do it’? Many thanks.

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2

Hi @Torsten,

I think ‘don’t’ just means the person must stop what he is doing at the time.

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3

So, it’s some kind of standalone word rather than an abbreviated version of a sentence similar to ‘go!’?

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4

Yes, I think it’s alone in this case.

I found these examples which are different:

Whatever you do, don’t lose this key.
Whatever you do, don’t buy that house.

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5

What’s interesting is that in your two examples both clauses are in the simple present while in 'Whatever you are doing, – don’t!" the first part is in the present progressive and the second part in the simple present.

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6

Yes, it is interesting indeed!

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7

Because the verb in the main clause is in the progressive (you’re doing), don’t should be short for don’t be doing which has the nature of advice. If it means don’t do, then the speaker wants Jimmy to stop doing it, which is not the case discernible from this context.

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