1.Last summer, we decided to spend a fine day going on a picnic in the country.
2.Last summer, we decided to spend a fine day on a picnic in the country.
Are both the sentences correct ?
thank you
Yes, both sentences make sense and are correct, although the second sentence is a little more clear.
It’s curious how you can drop the “going” verb and it still makes sense.
Other variations include (and I would write/speak it more this way than how you have written them):
On a fine day last summer, we decided to go to the countryside to have a picnic.
Last summer, we decided to spend a fine day in the countryside having a picnic.
Note that in some English speaking places they would distinguish between country and countryside. “Countryside” is a little less used these days. I would tend to say that “we went out into the country”, but this is probably a little Antipodean (Australia / New Zealand).
I hope this helps.
Simon
Thank you , simon
Your reply is really helpful ! 