why is it wrong?

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Anonymous

#294986 Sun, 19 Nov 06 12:53 AM

Why is 'what did you say was your name' wrong ?

Anonymous

Clive

#294993 Sun, 19 Nov 06 01:10 AM

Hi,

What makes you think it's wrong? Smile [:)]

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,269)

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

Marius Hancu

#294998 Sun, 19 Nov 06 02:02 AM

Some might prefer the inversion:

'What did you say your name WAS? '

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

CalifJim

#295062 Sun, 19 Nov 06 07:53 AM

For example, me. Smile [:)]

But I'd call it the non-inverted case.

Your name was what > What your name was (Subject-verb not inverted)

Your name was what > What was your name (Subject-verb inverted)

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,568)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Verbs

Yoong Liat

#295115 Sun, 19 Nov 06 12:11 PM

Anonymous wrote:

Why is 'what did you say was your name' wrong ?

From what I've read in books on English usage, it should be 'What did you say your name was?', not 'What did you say was your name?'

We should say:

1. 'What is your name?'

2. 'May I know what your name is?'

3. Could you tell me what your name is?

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,085)

Yoong Liat

Clive

#295263 Sun, 19 Nov 06 08:13 PM

Hi,

Lots of options. I wouldn't call this exchange wrong or rare:

Q - What did he say was his name?

A - He said 'Tom' was his name.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Yoong Liat

#295718 Tue, 21 Nov 06 03:14 AM

According to 'Modern English Usage' by Fowler, an indirect question is the grammarian's name for a modification of what was originally a question.

Direct question: Who are you?

Indirect question: I asked who he was.

NOT I asked who was he.

Indirect question: Tell me who you are.

NOT Tell me who are you.

Based on the above, shouldn't 'What did he say was his name?' be amended to 'What did he say his name was?' ?

Yoong Liat

Clive

#295764 Tue, 21 Nov 06 06:42 AM

Hi,

According to 'Modern English Usage' by Fowler, an indirect question is the grammarian's name for a modification of what was originally a question.

I don't see an 'original question' at the start of this exchange.

It sems to me that the conversation could be something like

A: Tom is my name. (This is a statement, not a question.)

B (addressing C): I didn't hear him. What did he say was his name?

C: He said Tom was his name. (or He said his name was Tom, I'm not suggesting that is wrong or uncommon.)

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Conversations, Indirect questions, Direct questions

Marius Hancu

#295809 Tue, 21 Nov 06 09:21 AM

In the New York Times, in questions with ?:

======

TELEVISION; Car in Every Garage, Sitcom in Every Cul-de-Sac

... did you say your name was?'' he asks. ...

April 2, 2006 - By DAVID CARR (NYT) - Arts - News

PUDGY,FIRST LADY OF INSULT, IN TOWN

... did you say your name was? Mary Lou? - Listen ...

February 27, 1981 - By FRED FERRETTI (NYT)

---------

Marius Hancu

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