Question mark needed?

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Pucca

#396282 Wed, 25 Jul 07 12:51 AM

Hello everyone! Smile [:)]

I have come across sentences like this 'I wonder how your sister destroyed the right?' so many times, is that question mark really needed?

I don't understand, I thought that with the word 'wonder' there was no need to use an interrogative mark..

Thanks in advance for your help!

Pucca

Joined on Sun, Aug 27 2006

Senior Member (2,914)

¿Alguna vez has tenido un sueño tan real que al despertarte no sabías qué creer?

Question marks

Marius Hancu

#396283 Wed, 25 Jul 07 12:54 AM

I think you're right.

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Question marks

Pucca

#396288 Wed, 25 Jul 07 01:16 AM

Hello Marius! Smile [:)]

Then, why is it used? I don't understand, well, I have just being told that it can be used in a dialogue when I told the person that my teacher told me not to use a question mark with 'wonder' in a formal letter.

Is it politically correct? I've seen it so many times that even if it is wrong, I may think it is correct in a future. Same with 'grammer', I was starting to think it was correct. Stick out tongue [:P]

Pucca

Question marks, Formal letter, Formal letters

Clive

#396290 Wed, 25 Jul 07 01:24 AM

Hi,

'I wonder how your sister destroyed the right?'

I would consider the question mark OK, if a question is indeed intended by the writer, but not in formal English. In formal English, the writer usually does not ask questions in this way.

What does it mean to say that someone destroyed the right? The right what?

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (21,181)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Question marks

Pucca

#396291 Wed, 25 Jul 07 01:35 AM

Sorry, 'right' was supposed to be 'ring' Embarrassed [:$]

, I took it from a book changing one thing, hehe.

..I don't know how to ask this question, someone told me that even natives don't agree whether the question mark is needed or not, if I understood well, but, then, what should I do? Use it or not? Tongue Tied [:S]

Thanks!

Pucca

Question marks

Clive

#396294 Wed, 25 Jul 07 02:03 AM

Hi,

Well, if you didn't like my first answer Smile [:)] , you could take this simple approach.

If you are speaking, say 'I wonder how your sister destroyed the ring', and in speech you don't have to worry about whether to write a question mark.

In writing, just write 'How did your sister destroy the ring?'

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Question marks

Pucca

#396519 Wed, 25 Jul 07 03:57 PM

Hello Clive! Smile [:)]

Nono, I liked your answer! ..but, I wanted to know a bit more.
So, you like the question mark, don't you?

Does the question mark make more difference? Like making it more informal?

I think I want to use it, but, I don't understand how, maybe if I use it, someone may think that I don't know that sometimes 'wonder' can't be used with a question mark. Well, yeap, I only know that I can use it in dialogues, okay, I think I am going to use it! Stick out tongue [:P]

Thanks once more!