Responding to "What Did You Do Today?": A Grammar Guide

The question “What did you do today?” seems simple, but crafting a grammatically correct and engaging response requires a solid understanding of English tenses, sentence structure, and vocabulary. This article provides a comprehensive guide to answering this common question effectively.

Mastering this skill is crucial for everyday conversations, improving fluency, and enhancing overall communication. This guide will benefit English language learners of all levels, from beginners to advanced speakers, as well as native English speakers looking to refine their conversational abilities.

Introduction
Definition: Responding to “What Did You Do Today?”
Structural Breakdown of Responses
Types of Responses
Examples
Usage Rules
Common Mistakes
Practice Exercises
Advanced Topics
FAQ
Conclusion

Definition: Responding to “What Did You Do Today?”

Responding to the question “What did you do today?” involves providing a summary of your activities and experiences from the day in question. This response typically utilizes thepast tenseto describe completed actions.

The question serves as an open-ended prompt, inviting you to share details about your day, ranging from mundane tasks to significant events. The context of the conversation and your relationship with the person asking will influence the level of detail and formality in your response.

At its core, answering this question is an exercise innarrative. You are essentially telling a brief story about your day.

This involves selecting the most relevant or interesting events and presenting them in a coherent and engaging manner. A good response demonstrates command of past tense verb forms and the ability to sequence events logically.

It also requires careful consideration of your audience and the purpose of the conversation.

From a linguistic perspective, a response to “What did you do today?” offers insight into your ability to use various grammatical structures, including simple past, past continuous, past perfect, and adverbs of time. These elements work together to create a comprehensive picture of your day’s activities.

Choosing the right words and phrases can significantly impact how your response is received, making it essential to understand the nuances of English grammar and vocabulary.

Structural Breakdown of Responses

The structure of a response to “What did you do today?” can be broken down into several key components. Understanding these components will help you craft clear and grammatically correct answers.

Subject: The person or thing performing the action (e.g., I, we, she, he, they).
Verb (Past Tense): The action performed, conjugated in the past tense (e.g., went, ate, studied, worked).
Object (Optional): The person or thing that receives the action (e.g., I ate lunch, she read a book).
Adverbs of Time (Optional): Words or phrases that specify when the action occurred (e.g., this morning, yesterday, last night).
Adverbs of Manner (Optional): Words that describe how the action was performed (e.g., quickly, carefully, slowly).
Prepositional Phrases (Optional): Phrases that provide additional information about the action or its context (e.g., at the park, with my friends, in the library).

A basic response often follows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) structure. For example: “I (Subject) went (Verb) to the store (Object).” More complex responses may include adverbs, prepositional phrases, and multiple clauses to provide a more detailed account of the day’s events.

Here’s an example illustrating a more complex structure:

“This morning (Adverb of Time), I (Subject) woke up (Verb) early, and (Conjunction) after (Preposition) having breakfast (Object), I (Subject) went (Verb) to the gym (Prepositional Phrase) with my friend (Prepositional Phrase).“

Types of Responses

There are several ways to structure your response to “What did you do today?”, each utilizing different tenses and sentence structures. Here are some common types:

Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense is used to describe completed actions in the past. It is the most common tense used when responding to “What did you do today?” because it directly addresses the question of what you *did*.

Structure: Subject + Verb (past form)

Example: “I worked on my project all day.”

Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense is used to describe actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. It can be used to provide background information or to describe ongoing activities.

Structure: Subject + was/were + Verb-ing

Example: “I was working on my project when my friend called.” (This provides background about what you were doing when the friend called.)

Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. It is useful for providing context and showing the sequence of events.

Structure: Subject + had + Verb (past participle)

Example: “I had finished my work before I went to the party.” (This shows that you completed your work before going to the party.)

Using Adverbs of Time

Adverbs of timespecify when an action occurred. They add detail and clarity to your response.

Common adverbs of time include:yesterday, today, this morning, this afternoon, last night, earlier, before, after.

Example: “This morning, I went for a run.”

Compound Sentences

Compound sentences combine two or more independent clauses (clauses that can stand alone as sentences) using coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, so, for, nor, yet). They allow you to connect related activities and provide a more comprehensive response.

Structure: Independent Clause + Coordinating Conjunction + Independent Clause

Example: “I went to the store, and I bought some groceries.”

Complex Sentences

Complex sentences consist of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses (clauses that cannot stand alone as sentences). Dependent clauses are often introduced by subordinating conjunctions (because, although, if, when, while, since).

Structure: Independent Clause + Subordinating Conjunction + Dependent Clause, or Dependent Clause + Subordinating Conjunction + Independent Clause

Example: “Because I had a lot of work to do, I stayed home all day.” (Dependent Clause + Independent Clause)

Examples

Here are several examples of responses to “What did you do today?”, categorized by tense and sentence structure.

Simple Past Examples

The following table provides examples of responses using the simple past tense. These examples demonstrate how to describe completed actions in a concise and direct manner.

Example	Explanation
I worked from home today.	A simple statement about working from home.
I visited my grandmother.	Describes a visit to a relative.
I cooked dinner for my family.	Describes preparing a meal.
I watched a movie.	Describes a leisure activity.
I read a book.	Describes a reading activity.
I went to the gym.	Describes a workout activity.
I cleaned the house.	Describes a chore.
I studied for my exam.	Describes a study session.
I met a friend for coffee.	Describes a social activity.
I walked the dog.	Describes a pet-related activity.
I attended a meeting.	Describes a professional activity.
I wrote an email.	Describes a communication activity.
I listened to music.	Describes a listening activity.
I played video games.	Describes a recreational activity.
I took a nap.	Describes a rest activity.
I learned something new.	Describes an educational activity.
I helped a neighbor.	Describes an act of kindness.
I practiced my instrument.	Describes a practice session.
I went shopping.	Describes a shopping trip.
I relaxed at home.	Describes a relaxation activity.
I traveled to another city.	Describes a travel activity.
I fixed the car.	Describes a repair activity.
I painted a picture.	Describes an artistic activity.
I baked a cake.	Describes a baking activity.
I gardened in the yard.	Describes a gardening activity.

Past Continuous Examples

The following table provides examples of responses using the past continuous tense. These examples show how to describe ongoing actions in the past, often providing context for other events.

Example	Explanation
I was working on a presentation all morning.	Describes an ongoing activity: working on a presentation.
I was watching TV when the power went out.	Describes an activity (watching TV) interrupted by another event.
I was cooking dinner when my friend called.	Describes an activity (cooking dinner) during a phone call.
I was reading a book when I fell asleep.	Describes an activity (reading) leading to another action.
I was listening to music while I cleaned.	Describes two activities occurring simultaneously.
I was studying for my exam when I got a headache.	Describes an activity (studying) leading to a physical condition.
I was walking the dog when it started to rain.	Describes an activity (walking the dog) interrupted by weather.
I was driving to work when I saw an accident.	Describes an activity (driving) during which an event occurred.
I was waiting for the bus when I met an old friend.	Describes an activity (waiting) during which a chance encounter happened.
I was exercising at the gym when I pulled a muscle.	Describes an activity (exercising) leading to an injury.
I was writing an email when my computer crashed.	Describes an activity (writing an email) interrupted by a technical issue.
I was playing video games when my parents called me for dinner.	Describes an activity (playing video games) interrupted by a family event.
I was taking a nap when the doorbell rang.	Describes an activity (napping) interrupted by a visitor.
I was learning to play the guitar when I realized it was too difficult.	Describes an activity (learning guitar) and a subsequent realization.
I was helping my neighbor when I hurt my back.	Describes an activity (helping a neighbor) leading to an injury.
I was practicing my dance routine when I missed a step.	Describes an activity (practicing dance) where an error occurred.
I was shopping for clothes when I found a great deal.	Describes an activity (shopping) leading to a positive outcome.
I was relaxing at home when I received an unexpected call.	Describes an activity (relaxing) interrupted by a phone call.
I was traveling to another city when I encountered heavy traffic.	Describes an activity (traveling) complicated by traffic.
I was fixing the car when I ran out of tools.	Describes an activity (fixing the car) interrupted by a lack of resources.
I was painting a picture when I spilled the paint.	Describes an activity (painting) interrupted by an accident.
I was baking a cake when the oven stopped working.	Describes an activity (baking) interrupted by a malfunctioning appliance.
I was gardening in the yard when I found an old coin.	Describes an activity (gardening) leading to a discovery.
I was mowing the lawn when the mower broke down.	Describes an activity (mowing) interrupted by equipment failure.

Past Perfect Examples

The following table provides examples of responses using the past perfect tense. These examples illustrate how to describe actions that were completed before other actions in the past, emphasizing the sequence of events.

Example	Explanation
I had already eaten when my friend arrived.	Indicates eating was completed before the friend’s arrival.
I had finished my homework before I watched TV.	Indicates homework was completed before watching TV.
I had visited Paris before I went to Rome.	Indicates visiting Paris occurred before visiting Rome.
I had never seen snow before I went to the mountains.	Indicates the first snow experience happened during the mountain trip.
I had studied French before I traveled to France.	Indicates French studies happened before the trip to France.
I had worked at that company before I started my own business.	Indicates previous employment before starting a business.
I had read the book before I saw the movie.	Indicates reading the book preceded watching the movie.
I had learned to drive before I bought a car.	Indicates driving lessons were completed before the car purchase.
I had met her before I knew her name.	Indicates the meeting happened before learning her name.
I had saved enough money before I bought the house.	Indicates saving money was completed before buying the house.
I had packed my bags before I left for the airport.	Indicates packing was completed before heading to the airport.
I had watered the plants before I went on vacation.	Indicates watering the plants was done before the vacation.
I had locked the door before I left the house.	Indicates locking the door occurred before leaving.
I had set the alarm before I went to bed.	Indicates setting the alarm was done before bedtime.
I had charged my phone before I went out.	Indicates charging the phone was completed before going out.
I had checked the weather before I planned the trip.	Indicates checking the weather preceded planning the trip.
I had made a reservation before we went to the restaurant.	Indicates making a reservation was done before going to the restaurant.
I had practiced the speech before I delivered it.	Indicates practicing the speech preceded delivering it.
I had cleaned the kitchen before I started baking.	Indicates cleaning the kitchen was completed before baking.
I had finished the report before the deadline.	Indicates finishing the report was done before the deadline.
I had submitted the application before they stopped accepting them.	Indicates submitting the application was done before the deadline.
I had booked the tickets before they sold out.	Indicates booking the tickets was done before they sold out.
I had learned the recipe before I tried to cook it.	Indicates learning the recipe was done before cooking it.
I had prepared the ingredients before I started cooking.	Indicates preparing the ingredients was done before starting to cook.
I had read the instructions before I assembled the furniture.	Indicates reading the instructions was done before assembling the furniture.

Adverbs of Time Examples

The following table provides examples of responses using adverbs of time. These examples demonstrate how to add specificity to when actions occurred.

Example	Explanation
Today, I went to the park.	Specifies the action happened today.
Yesterday, I worked late.	Specifies the action happened yesterday.
This morning, I had a large breakfast.	Specifies the action happened this morning.
This afternoon, I took a nap.	Specifies the action happened this afternoon.
Last night, I watched a movie.	Specifies the action happened last night.
Earlier, I went for a walk.	Specifies the action happened earlier in the day.
Before lunch, I finished my report.	Specifies the action happened before lunchtime.
After dinner, I read a book.	Specifies the action happened after dinner.
In the morning, I exercised.	Specifies the action happened in the morning.
In the evening, I relaxed with my family.	Specifies the action happened in the evening.
During the day, I attended several meetings.	Specifies the action happened during the day.
At noon, I had lunch with a colleague.	Specifies the action happened at noon.
Around 3 PM, I started feeling tired.	Specifies the action happened around 3 PM.
By 5 PM, I had completed all my tasks.	Specifies that the action was completed by 5 PM.
Since this morning, I have been working on this project.	Implies that the speaker has been working on the project continuously since this morning
Until recently, I hadn’t seen that movie.	Indicates that the movie viewing occurred recently.
Shortly after I woke up, I made coffee.	Highlights that making coffee happened soon after waking up.
Previously, I had worked on a similar project.	Implies that the speaker had some relevant experience.
Eventually, I finished the assignment.	Indicates that the action was completed after some time.
Immediately after the call, I started working on the task.	Highlights the promptness with which the speaker commenced the task.
First, I woke up, then I had breakfast.	Specifies the order of the actions.
Later, I went to the gym	Specifies that the action happened later.
Early this morning, I went for a run.	Specifies when the running activity happened.
Late in the evening, I relaxed.	Specifies when the relaxation activity happened.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted.	Specifies that the speaker was exhausted at the end of the day.

Compound Sentence Examples

The following table provides examples of responses using compound sentences. These examples show how to connect related activities using coordinating conjunctions.

Example	Explanation
I went to the store, and I bought some milk.	Connects the action of going to the store with buying milk.
I studied for my exam, but I didn’t feel prepared.	Connects studying with a feeling of unpreparedness.
I could have stayed home, or I could have gone out with friends.	Presents two alternative actions.
I was tired, so I went to bed early.	Connects tiredness with going to bed early.
I wanted to go to the beach, for the weather was perfect.	Connects wanting to go to the beach with the reason (perfect weather).
I didn’t have any money, nor did I have a credit card.	Connects lacking money with lacking a credit card.
She practiced her piano, yet she still made mistakes.	Connects practicing with making mistakes despite practice.
I finished my work, and I went out for dinner.	Connects finishing work with going out for dinner.
He cleaned the house, but he forgot to take out the trash.	Connects cleaning the house with forgetting the trash.
We can go to the movies, or we can stay home and watch TV.	Presenting two alternative options.
She was feeling sick, so she decided to stay in bed.	Connects feeling sick with staying in bed.
I wanted to learn to play guitar, for I love music.	Connects wanting to learn guitar with the reason (loving music).
They didn’t have any pets, nor did they plan to get any.	Connects not having pets with not planning to get any.
He studied hard, yet he didn’t get a good grade.	Connects studying hard with not getting a good grade.
I walked to the park, and I enjoyed the beautiful scenery.	Connects walking to the park with enjoying the scenery.
She cooked a delicious meal, but she forgot to set the table.	Connects cooking a meal with forgetting to set the table.
We can go swimming, or we can just relax by the pool.	Presenting two alternative options.
I woke up late, so I rushed to work.	Connects waking up late with rushing to work.
I had a meeting, and it went well.	Connects having a meeting to it going well.
I did laundry, and I cleaned my room.	Connects doing laundry with cleaning room.
I went shopping, but I didn’t buy anything.	Connects going shopping with not buying anything.
I watched a movie, and I ate popcorn.	Connects watching movie with eating popcorn.
The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.	Connects the weather and with the birds’ singing.

Complex Sentence Examples

The following table provides examples of responses using complex sentences. These examples show how to use subordinating conjunctions to add detail and context to your response.

Example	Explanation
Because I had a lot of work to do, I stayed home all day.	Explains the reason for staying home.
Although it was raining, I went for a walk.	Contrasts the weather with the action of going for a walk.
If I have time later, I will go to the gym.	Expresses a conditional action.
When I finished my work, I relaxed with a book.	Indicates the timing of relaxing with a book.
While I was cooking dinner, the phone rang.	Indicates an event that occurred during cooking.
Since I started exercising regularly, I feel much healthier.	Explains the result of exercising regularly.
As soon as I arrived, the meeting started.	Indicates the timing of the meeting starting.
Before I went to bed, I brushed my teeth.	Indicates an action before bedtime.
After I finished my work, I watched a movie.	Indicates an action after finishing work.
Until I finish this project, I can’t take a vacation.	Expresses a condition for taking a vacation.
Unless it rains, we will have a picnic.	Expresses a conditional for having a picnic.
Wherever I go, I always take my camera.	Indicates a habit of taking a camera.
Even though I was tired, I went to the party.	Contrasts tiredness with going to the party.
So that I could stay in shape, I went to the gym.	Explains the purpose of going to the gym.
Whether you like it or not, you have to do your homework.	Expresses the inevitability of doing homework.
As long as you study hard, you will pass the exam.	Expresses a condition for passing the exam.
Since it was a holiday, I slept in.	Explains the reason for sleeping in.
If I have time, I will call you.	Expresses a conditional action.
Because it was raining, I stayed inside.	Explains the reason for staying inside.
When I got home, I made dinner.	Indicates the timing of making dinner.
Although I was tired, I went to the party anyway.	Contrasts tiredness with going to the party.
After I finished work, I went to the gym.	Indicates an action after finishing work.
Because it was a public holiday, everything was closed.	Explains the reason for everything being closed.

Usage Rules

Following certain usage rules ensures that your responses are grammatically correct and clear.

Tense Agreement

Maintain consistent tense usage within your response. If you start in the simple past, generally continue in the simple past unless there’s a specific reason to switch to another tense (like past continuous or past perfect for background information or sequence of events).

Correct: “I went to the store, and I bought some milk.” (Both verbs are in the simple past.)

Incorrect: “I went to the store, and I am buying some milk.” (The tenses are inconsistent.)

Subject-Verb Agreement

Ensure that the verb agrees with the subject in number (singular or plural). This is particularly important with irregular verbs like “to be” (was/were).

Correct: “I was working on my project.” (Singular subject “I” agrees with “was.”)

Incorrect: “I were working on my project.” (Singular subject “I” does not agree with “were.”)

Adverb Placement

Adverbs of time can usually be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, depending on the desired emphasis. However, certain adverbs (like adverbs of frequency) have more restricted placement.

Correct: “Yesterday, I went to the park.”

Correct: “I went to the park yesterday.”

Correct: “I yesterday went to the park.” (Less common, but grammatically correct in certain contexts for emphasis.)

Pronoun Reference

Make sure that pronouns have clear and unambiguous references. Avoid using pronouns that could refer to multiple nouns in the sentence.

Clear: “John visited his brother, and he helped him with his homework.” (It’s clear that the first “he” refers to John, and the second “him” refers to the brother.)

Ambiguous:
“John visited his brother, and he helped him.” (It’s unclear who helped whom.)

Common Mistakes

Several common mistakes can occur when responding to “What did you do today?”. Being aware of these can help you avoid them.

Incorrect Tense Usage: Using the present tense instead of the past tense to describe completed actions.

Incorrect: “I go to the store.”
Correct: “I went to the store.”

Subject-Verb Disagreement: Failing to match the subject with the correct form of the verb.

Incorrect: “They was at the park.”
Correct: “They were at the park.”

Misplaced Adverbs: Placing adverbs in awkward or unclear positions in the sentence.

Awkward: “I quickly went to the store.”
Better: “I went to the store quickly.”

Unclear Pronoun References: Using pronouns without clear antecedents, leading to confusion.

Unclear: “John told Bill that he was wrong.” (Who was wrong?)
Clearer: “John told Bill, ‘You are wrong.'”

Incomplete Sentences: Providing responses that lack a subject or a verb.

Incomplete: “Went to the store.”
Complete: “I went to the store.”

Overly Complex Responses: Using overly complicated sentence structures that obscure the meaning.

Overly Complex: “The activity that I engaged in today, which was quite enjoyable, involved a visit to a particular commercial establishment for the purpose of acquiring certain goods.”
Simpler: “I went shopping today.”

Lack of Detail: Providing responses that are too vague and don’t offer any interesting information.

Vague: “I did stuff.”
Detailed: “I spent the morning working on a new project, and then I met a friend for lunch.”

Using the Wrong Preposition: Incorrectly using prepositions, which can confuse the meaning.

Incorrect: “I went at the store.”
Correct: “I went to the store.”

Spelling and Grammar Errors: Making simple spelling or grammatical errors that detract from the clarity and professionalism of the response.

Incorrect: “I went to the store to by some milk.”
Correct: “I went to the store to buy some milk.”

Practice Exercises

Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of how to respond to “What did you do today?”.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

Yesterday, I ________ (go) to the library.
Answer: went
This morning, I ________ (eat) breakfast at 7 AM.
Answer: ate
I ________ (work) on my computer all afternoon.
Answer: worked
Last night, I ________ (watch) a movie with my friends.
Answer: watched
Before lunch, I ________ (finish) my report.
Answer: finished
Today, I ________ (learn) something new.
Answer: learned
I ________ (visit) my family last weekend.
Answer: visited
I ________ (play) basketball with my friends.
Answer: played
I ________ (read) a book before sleeping.
Answer: read
I ________ (write) an email to my boss.
Answer: wrote

Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation

Transform the following sentences into the past continuous tense.

I read a book.
Answer: I was reading a book.
She cooks dinner.
Answer: She was cooking dinner.
They play football.
Answer: They were playing football.
He works on his project.
Answer: He was working on his project.
We watch TV.
Answer: We were watching TV.
I listen to music.
Answer: I was listening to music.
She cleans the house.
Answer: She was cleaning the house.
They study for the exam.
Answer: They were studying for the exam.
He drives to work.
Answer: He was driving to work.
We eat lunch.
Answer: We were eating lunch.

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Identify and correct the errors in the following sentences.

I be go to the store yesterday.
Answer: I went to the store yesterday.
She were study for her test.
Answer: She was studying for her test.
They was watch a movie last night.
Answer: They were watching a movie last night.
He goed to the gym this morning.
Answer: He went to the gym this morning.
We was eat dinner at 7 PM.
Answer: We were eating dinner at 7 PM.
I am went to the park.
Answer: I went to the park.
She is read a book yesterday.
Answer: She read a book yesterday.
They has play football.
Answer: They played football.
He have work all day.
Answer: He worked all day.
We is watch TV.
Answer: We watched TV.

Advanced Topics

Explore these advanced topics to further enhance your responses.

Idiomatic Expressions

Using idiomatic expressions can make your responses more colorful and engaging. However, it’s essential to use them correctly and in appropriate contexts.

Here are a few examples:

“I had a busy day.” – This is a common way to indicate that you were occupied with many activities.
“I just took it easy.” – This means you relaxed and didn’t do much.
“I was burning the midnight oil.” – This means you were working late into the night.
“I was running around like a chicken with its head cut off.” – This means you were very busy and disorganized.
“I was swamped with work.” – This means you had a lot of work to do.

Narrative Structure

Structuring your response like a short narrative can make it more interesting. Consider including a beginning, middle, and end, even in a brief summary of your day.

For example:

“This morning, I started by going to the gym (beginning). Then, I spent most of the day working on a project at the office (middle).

Finally, I came home, cooked dinner, and relaxed with a good book (end).”

Formal vs. Informal Responses

The level of formality in your response should depend on your relationship with the person asking and the context of the conversation. In formal settings, it’s best to use complete sentences and avoid slang.

In informal settings, you can be more relaxed and use contractions and colloquial expressions.

Formal: “Today, I attended a conference and participated in several meetings.”

Informal: “Today, I went to a conference and had a bunch of meetings.”

FAQ

How do I respond if I didn’t do anything interesting?

Even if you didn’t do anything particularly exciting, you can still provide a meaningful response. Focus on the details of your routine or share your thoughts and feelings about the day.

For example: “I had a quiet day at home. I mostly relaxed and caught up on some reading.

It was nice to have a break.”

What if I don’t want to share details about my day?

It’s perfectly acceptable to keep your response brief and general if you don’t feel like sharing details. You can say something like: “It was a pretty typical day.” or “Not much, just the usual.” You can also politely change the subject.

How can I make my responses more engaging?

Add specific details and use descriptive language to bring your experiences to life. Instead of saying “I went to a restaurant,” try saying “I went to a new Italian restaurant downtown, and the pasta was amazing!“

Is it okay to ask the person asking the question about their day?

Yes, it’s polite to reciprocate and ask the person about their day. This shows that you’re interested in them and helps keep the conversation flowing.

After answering the question, you can say: “What about you? What did you do today?”

What if I can’t remember everything I did?

It’s fine to focus on the highlights of your day or the things that stood out to you the most. You don’t need to provide a comprehensive account of every single activity.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of responding to “What did you do today?” involves understanding and applying various aspects of English grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary. By using the simple past tense, past continuous tense, past perfect tense, adverbs of time, compound sentences, and complex sentences effectively, you can craft clear, engaging, and grammatically correct responses.

Remember to follow usage rules, avoid common mistakes, and consider exploring advanced topics to further enhance your conversational skills. With practice and attention to detail, you can confidently and eloquently share your daily experiences with others.

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