Search results for 'tag:Direct questions tag:Adverbs' matching tags 'Direct questions' and 'Adverbs'

Re: when to?

CalifJim — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:28:55 GMT

Taka
I think what the author is trying to say is 'when you change trains',

Yes, that's most likely the intent.

Taka
but is that 'when to' grammatically acceptable?

Not here. No. when to clauses are indirect questions, hence, they function as noun phrases:

I didn't know when to change trains.

Be sure to tell him when to change trains.

They don't function as adverbs:

*You have to walk when to change trains.

*Be sure to read the posted signs when to change trains.

Re: Relative Clauses and Indirect Questions

Cool Breeze — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:48:22 GMT

Clive wrote:
I don't see any of these as relative clauses. They are noun clauses.

eg noun clause I read what he wrote.
eg relative clause I read the letter which he wrote. Here, which he wrote is relative (ie relates to) the noun 'letter'.

I don't see any indirect questions, either.

Hi Clive

This is an interesting thread. All maner of terms are used to describe clauses - and I am not saying your terms are wrong. However, what is very commonly considered a relative pronoun which includes the antecedent. The following quotation is from Otto Jespersen's Essentials of English Grammar:

"33.6 Though the relative and interrogative pronouns and adverbs beginning with wh are identical in form, it is possible in most cases to tell whether a clause is relative or interrogative. What is relative in 'I insist on paying what it has cost,' but interrogative in 'I insist on knowing what it has cost.'"

Jespersen doesn't use the term "noun clause" at all. Of course that doesn't mean "noun clause" is an incorrect term, it just proves there are many ways to describe language. In fact, I don't think I have ever read a grammar book that uses the term "noun clause."

To me, all of the original poster's what-clauses are relative clauses. No. 5 isn't a sentence, though, as it has no main clause; in other words, the part preceding what has no subject and finite verb.

Cheers
CB

Re: inverted word order

Anonymous — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 16:05:39 GMT

. direct question

negative adverbs that begin a sentence

comparison

adv place at the beginning of a sentence

omission if

expressions with'only' that begin a sentence

so, neithe, nor

Indirect questions

Guest — Mon, 20 Oct 2003 11:10:20 GMT

A student asked me the folowing question. Why doesn't the object precede the verb in the indirect question "Do you know what's wrong with it?" as it usually does in indirect questions like "Do you know what it is?". I think it might have something to do with "wrong" being used as an adverb and the use of the prep phrase "with it". But I can't put my finger on it. Hope you can. thanks