why when

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Anewcomer  #482854  Thu, 28 Feb 08 07:07 PM
Hi Teachers

 

Can i say: why everytime when I ask you always keep quiet?

or

Why do you keep quiet (everytime) when I ask you? 

And : which is correct: "what could be the reason for him to go?" or "what could the reason be for him to go?"

  
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Grammar Geek  #482861  Thu, 28 Feb 08 07:40 PM

Hi Anewcomer,

Can i say: why everytime when I ask you always keep quiet? No

or

Why do you keep quiet (everytime) when I ask you? No

Try either of these: 

Why is that you keep quiet every time I ask you?

Why do you keep quiet every time I ask you?

And : which is correct: "what could be the reason for him to go?" or "what could the reason be for him to go?" Either is okay, but I prefer the second for some reason.

  
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Anewcomer  #482865  Thu, 28 Feb 08 07:49 PM
Thanks GG

 

One more question

 

What is the feeling that you feel when you sing?

What feeling did u get from arguing with her?

Who do you want to meet when you're grown up?

What does it feel to have your decision made four years latter? 

 

And for this one: can I say it like this: " Why do you keep quiet when I ask you?"   without the "every time"

 

Thanks

  
Anewcomer  #483043  Fri, 29 Feb 08 06:10 AM
Any teacher would like to help me :)
  
New2grammar  #483044  Fri, 29 Feb 08 06:18 AM

Here's my take

What are your feelings when you sing?

How do you feel after arguing with her?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

#4 I don't understand what you're trying to say. In fact, the above are based on my guess as to what you are trying to say.

 

  
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Anewcomer  #483046  Fri, 29 Feb 08 06:27 AM
any other Teachers? i just want to clarify whether this is correct,common, acceptable in english
  
CalifJim  #483071  Fri, 29 Feb 08 07:47 AM

What is the feeling that you feel when you sing?  OK  How do you feel when you sing?

What feeling did u you get from arguing with her?  OK.  How did you feel about arguing with her?  How did you feel when you were arguing with her?

Who do you want to meet when you're grown up?  OK.

What does it feel like to have your decision made four years later latterOK.  [Hard to understand what is being referred to without context.]

_________ 

They are all grammatically OK, as corrected in red.  Nevertheless, they are not all completely idiomatic, as shown by the suggested changes in blue.

CJ 

 


  
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Anewcomer  #483074  Fri, 29 Feb 08 07:58 AM
Hi CJ, you missed one part of my question

here: why do you always keep quiet when I ask you?

 Is it correct?

Thanks

  
CalifJim  #483075  Fri, 29 Feb 08 08:07 AM
Anewcomer
Why do you keep quiet when I ask you?
This is difficult to respond to because it's difficult to understand what you are trying to say.  Are you trying to say what a teacher says to a reluctant student?  If so, say:

Why do you keep quiet when I call on you?

Why do you keep quiet whenever I call on you? 

Why do you keep quiet every time I call on you? 

You can use when or whenever or every time, but not more than one of them at a time.

You can substitute freeze up for keep quiet in any of the three sentences above if you want to indicate inability to speak because of fear. 

_________ 

If the example is not that of a teacher, then try one of these:

Why don't you answer my question?

Why don't you answer when I ask you a question? 

 CJ

  
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