"she must be busy" vs "she must be keeping busy"

Question

"she must be busy" vs "she must be keeping busy"

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. 'She must be keeping busy' implies that she is actively engaging in activities to keep herself occupied, while 'She must be busy' simply states that she is occupied with tasks. The choice between the two depends on whether you want to emphasize the ongoing action of keeping busy or just the state of being busy.

Last Updated: March 11, 2024

This phrase simply states that the person is occupied with tasks. It does not emphasize the ongoing action of staying busy.

Examples:

She must be busy with work.
I can see she must be busy preparing for the meeting.

Alternatives:

She must be occupied.
She must have a lot on her plate.
She must be swamped with tasks.
She must be preoccupied.

This phrase implies that the person is actively engaging in activities to keep themselves occupied. It emphasizes the ongoing action of staying busy.

Examples:

She must be keeping busy with all her projects.
I can tell she must be keeping busy with all the events she's organizing.

Alternatives:

She must be busy doing something.
She must be occupied with tasks.
She must be keeping herself occupied.
She must be engaged in various activities.

Answer 1

she must be busy

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

she must be keeping busy

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"she must be busy" vs "she must be keeping busy"

she must be busy

she must be keeping busy

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