chenyj  +  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? chenyj Joined on Sat, May 7 2005 China Junior Member 83

	Amandine  +  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 Amandine Joined on Mon, Mar 21 2005 Chicago&Paris Full Member 245 il n'est jamais trop tard pour realiser ce a quoi vous aspirez

	temico  +  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?"?? temico Joined on Thu, Apr 21 2005 Full Member 274

	MrPedantic  +  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 MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris...

	temico  +  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? temico

	MrPedantic  +  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 MrPedantic Dialects

	temico  +  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!" temico

	rwiles  +  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). rwiles Joined on Thu, May 26 2005 Live in England work in Germany Full Member 144 Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein

	chenyj  +  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? chenyj