Mr. Tom  +  423043 Mon, 24 Sep 07 06:34 PM Hi Could you please tell me which one of the following is correct and natural? He asked me how many people were there? He asked me how many people there were? Thanks Mr. Tom Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007 Regular Member 710 Tom

	WesternAmerican  +  423051 Mon, 24 Sep 07 06:49 PM Hi Tom, I would say ''How many people were there?'' is the only correct choice here, because it seems to be a direct question. How can I solve this problem?     direct question One of my pupils asked me how I can(not can I) solve this problem.   indirect question WesternAmerican Joined on Wed, Jun 6 2007 Israel Full Member 393 I will REALLY appreciate any corrections to my posts, whether it be grammar, glossary, or just something that could elevate my style. Thank you. Indirect Questions, Direct Questions

	CalifJim  +  423067 Mon, 24 Sep 07 07:18 PM This one is correct and natural: He asked me how many people there were. (No question mark.  It's a statement of what someone asked.  It's not a question.) CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,399 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Question Marks

	Yankee  +  423071 Mon, 24 Sep 07 07:29 PM Hi Tom I'd say both are fine, but would be used for different reasons. In your first sentence, the stress is on location (locative there). "How many people were at the party?" -->  He asked me how many people were there. (there = at the party) The use of 'there' in your second sentence could be more existential. "There are how many people being interviewed for that job?!" -->  He asked me how many people there were (being interviewed for the job). Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,499 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

	CalifJim  +  423180 Tue, 25 Sep 07 01:38 AM Pffff!  I hadn't even thought of the adverb there = in that place! CJ CalifJim Verbs, Adverbs