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This question is Not Answered
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chenyj
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103827
Sun, 29 May 05 03:36 PM
---what do you think _ he _ the computer?
---Sorry, I have no idea.
a. /, bought b. has; bought c. did; buy d. had; bought
Which one to choose?
Joined on
Sat, May 7 2005
China
Junior Member
83
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Amandine
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103837
Sun, 29 May 05 06:03 PM
I would say choice a
What do you think he bought the computer?
if you use the other choices, you will have 2 structures of interrogation in the same question
the first one, what do you think
the second one, "has he bought", or "did he buy", or "had he bought"
and you can't have 2 forms of interrogations in the same question
Joined on
Mon, Mar 21 2005
Chicago&Paris
Full Member
245
il n'est jamais trop tard pour realiser ce a quoi vous aspirez
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temico
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103863
Sun, 29 May 05 11:09 PM
To Amandine,
Are you certain that "What do you think he bought the computer?" is correct? Shouldn't it be, "WHY do you think he bought the computer FOR?"??
Joined on
Thu, Apr 21 2005
Full Member
274
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MrPedantic
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103871
Sun, 29 May 05 11:34 PM
1. What do you think he bought the computer? ] This suggests he bought something to give to the computer, as a present. Not possible! Though you could say:
1a. What do you think – he bought the computer!
However, this doesn't fit the context.
2. What do you think has he bought the computer? ] This would only be possible if repunctuated: What do you think – has he bought the computer?
3. What do you think did he buy the computer? ] Ditto: 'What do you think – did he buy the computer?'
4. What do you think had he bought the computer? ] Not possible, even if repunctuated.
5. Why do you think he bought the computer for? ] Not possible; change to 'What do you think he bought the computer for?' or 'Why do you think he bought the computer?'
So as the question stands, 2 and 3 are both possible, if the sentence is repunctuated.
MrP
Joined on
Tue, Oct 12 2004
Veteran Member
12,592
...opella forensis / adducit febris...
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temico
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104135
Mon, 30 May 05 10:14 PM
To MrP,
How about these two sentences,
i) "Why do you think his mother came to the school for?"
ii) "Why do you think his mother came to the school for, if not to complain to the headmaster?"
Are they incorrect sentences?
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MrPedantic
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104142
Mon, 30 May 05 11:12 PM
Hello Temico
Yes; in standard English, you would have to say either 'why do you think she came to the school', or 'what do you think she came to the school for'.
(Though no doubt there are dialects where 'why...for?' is permissible!)
MrP
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temico
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104159
Tue, 31 May 05 12:27 AM
Thanks again MrP. I have heard native English speakers(workers) say it countless times, "Why do you think they are going to Bangkok for, if not for the girlies!"
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rwiles
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104250
Tue, 31 May 05 10:09 AM
"Why do you think they are going to Bangkok, if not for the girlies?"
or
"What do you think they are going to Bangkok for, if not for the girlies?"
would seem more likely.
(Obviously you've heard your colleagues so I'm not doubting what they've said, but the above two variations are the way a native BrE speaker would phrase the sentence).
Joined on
Thu, May 26 2005
Live in England work in Germany
Full Member
144
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
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chenyj
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104879
Thu, 02 Jun 05 08:07 AM
How about
who do you think is the best student in our school?
Can't we consider "do you think" as insert?
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