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

Re: ..why do I have vs ..why I have

EagerSeeker — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:43:25 GMT

Tanit

Hi,

As Goodman says, only the first one is correct,
From your post and your examples, I understand you've got Swann's book, right?
So, may I suggest another approach to clear your doubt?
That's an indirect question.
If you've got the same edition as me (the 3rd), have a look at section 276, "Indirect speech: questions and answers":

In reported questions the subject normally comes before the verb in standard English, and auxiliary do is not used.
- DIRECT: Where's Alice?
- INDIRECT: I asked where Alice was. (NOT ... ~~where was Alice~~.)
...
- DIRECT: What do I need?
- INDIRECT: She asked what she needed. (NOT ... ~~what did she need~~.)
...

If we try and use the same approach:

- DIRECT: Why do I have two cars?
- INDIRECT: You may wonder why I have two cars. (NOT ... ~~why do I have two cars~~.)

Yes, you are absolutely right! It is indeed indirect speech (I realized it later after reading more) and then we don't use auxiliary "do" in indirect questions.
But I found this to be a tricky one. Yes, I have Swan's book but he doesn't mention that we can use auxiliary do in indirect speech when the sentence
is negative.

I found this from my Finnish-English grammar book: "Auxiliary do is not used in indirect questions except in negative sentences".
Example: "Philip asked why children didn't read anymore."

So on the basis of what has been said so far I would find these examples correct:

"You may wonder why I have two cars."
"You may wonder why I don't have two cars." (negative sentence)
"You may wonder why I do have two cars." (emphatic sentence)

That emphasis is a nice suggestion from you guys!

Re: Tense in conditional sentence

Tanit — Sun, 04 May 2008 10:56:28 GMT

Hi, N2G,

Besides in indirect questions (the examples previously given), if + will works also to indicate volition (or refusal in its negative form, "if + won't" ) or insistence, and, yes, it can be used at the beginning of a sentence. Here are the links to some other threads where these kinds of if + will were discussed. Hope you'll find them useful.

http://www.englishforums.com/English/IfAdjectiveClauses/zjqbg/post.htm
http://www.englishforums.com/English/NoCondition/vrcvh/post.htm
http://www.englishforums.com/English/IfClauseFuture/2/cwgxp/Post.htm

Re: did I / can I/ have I in affirmative clauses

Tanit — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:08:35 GMT

Hi Giuseppe, and welcome!

The structure you're referring to is called "inversion."

Your examples fall into a singular category (that of negative/restrictive expression) which includes other expressions, such as barely, scarcely, hardly, seldom, little, never, under no circumstances, at no time, etc (there are many more!)

Besides in direct questions, inversion is also used:

In short tags. "I like it!" "So do I"
In formal/emphatic conditional sentences: "Should you need further information, please call ..."
When expressing wishes starting with may: "May you find what you're searching for."
Sometimes in indirect questions, especially when the subject is too long (cannot think of an example right now, sorry!)
Sometimes (quite literary) after as, so, than: "She was very pretty, as were her sisters."

There can be other circumstances in which inversion occurs; these are the ones that came to my mind.

As for your examples, I think the first one needs a past simple because you've got a time reference (Only yesterday did I realise...). I also would put an object (it) after repeat.

I'm not a native either, so you'd probably better wait for one of them.

Re: "Any of the bits"

CalifJim — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:55:36 GMT

There are quite a few idioms where tell is not used exactly the same as in to tell someone something.

The following are usually negative and usually followed by an indirect question or a that clause. These mean that something is not obvious or easily seen by the subject of the sentence.

can't tell / not be able to tell / impossible to tell (if ..., whether ..., how many ..., which ..., where ..., when ..., that ...)

I can't tell what it says on that sign. I must need new glasses.
Judy was unable to tell where the dress had been torn and repaired.
No one could tell that the violinist made a mistake.
___________

Note the idiom not be able to tell the difference.

Sherry said that she had put too much salt in the stew, but I'm sure that nobody else could tell the difference.
___________

The affirmative form can tell means that something is obvious, easily seen.

I can tell that you've passed the exam. You look very happy.
You can tell when the dog is hungry. He lies by his dish and looks up hopefully every time anyone passes by.
I could tell that Jake was nervous when he gave his speech.

CJ

Re: noun clause

Diamondrg — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 21:27:08 GMT

Diamondrg wrote:

What about these?

1- I'll take whoever wants to go. (Longman)

2- I'll take who wants to go.

3- I don't know who knows the truth.

4- I don't know whoever knows the truth.

What is the rule governing their use?

do you think these are all correct?

In an earlier thread, CalifJim said that 4 is not correct, but I didn't get the reason. Let me quote:

- I'll take whoever wants to go. (Longman)

is it different from

- I don't know who knows the truth

whoever is not used in an indirect question structure.
Indirect question structure:

Who knows the truth?
I don't know. I don't know who knows the truth.

This sentence is not saying I don't know anyone who knows the truth.

I don't know who knows the truth.
we are committed to the existence of someone who knows the truth at the moment of the utterance. The identity of the knower of the truth is not known, but there is such a person. We just don't know which person it is. Here it is not a matter of waiting for some future event to reveal the identity of this knower of the truth.

CJ

Yes. It's different. And complicated. Both the differences in semantic properties of the verbs take and know and the presence or absence of a negative create complications which lead me to say these are really different cases.

I don't have a definite all-inclusive answer at this time, but I'll think about it and give a fuller response later if I can get my brain around the network of all the subtleties.

Meanwhile, as a purely tentative first shot at an explanation, I'm inclined to say that whoever can't be used after a negative without either changing the meaning of whoever or creating an anomalous sentence.

I am interested in ---- broke the machine.

A) who B) whom C) whoever D) whomever

"Who" would be the best choice....but it would be better following "interested in knowing.....

Philip

Hi, C. Clive

English - PLEASE HELP !!!

Akafuture — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 14:54:04 GMT

Hi, IÂ´m a german student in the 12 grade.. I would like to let you read my homework, because I want you to tell me what I can do better with this text and maybe some other suggestions how to write it .... I would really appreciate you if you could take some time and read through my text ... It is an interview with the Minister of Education :

You have been chosen as a spokesperson of a team which has prepared an interview with the Minister of Education. Your topic is : âTo what extent does school prepare us for life?â Your questions can be direct questions or suggestions. Write up the interview of about 250 / 300 words.chemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />>>

> >

Dr. Annette Schavan, you are the new Minister of Education!>>

After being chosen to congress, how do you feel about your new task and what goals do you aspire to fulfil by the year 2009?>>

> >

First of all, it is a great pleasure for me being chosen to the congress and IÂ´m really looking forward to take over this task!>>

One of our biggest aims is not only to improve the education level within the german borders, but to get a leading role regarding the school system within the E.U. .>>

> >

Germany has an unemployment rate of nearly 12%;>>

Our economy has a growth of only about 1%;>>

Many people see our german education system and above all the school as an institution being responsible for those negative figures. They criticize school by claiming that is doesnÂ´t give you the knowledge you will really need one day in your life. >>

So, my main question is, to what extent does school prepare us for life?>>

> >

First of all I wouldnÂ´t say that the general knowledge you are taught in your school years is unsufficiant. None of us know what the future will bring and what the life of our children will be like. None of us know what our children will do and where they will be in 20 or 30 years. So, it is very important to have a fundamental knowledge about certain things, because otherwise you might end up without a job one day.>>

To sum up this discussion I would say that your knowledge level is at the same time your qualification. And without qualification, these days you do not have any chance to get an employment.>>

> >

And what about the preparation for life after school ?>>

> >

Yes, this is what IÂ´m just trying to explain to you.>>

A very important fact which is often overseen by many people is that school is a basic institution for children where they make fundamental experiences concerning the interpersonal relations.>>

Children in young age but also older children are taught how to approach other people, how to behave in public and how to point out their personal opinion. Of course, all these things are actually happening indirectly, but it has great importance regarding the preparation for life after school.>>

> >

Thank you very much Dr. Annette Schavan for being here and giving us this interview!>>

> >

YouÂ´re welcome! I had a great time being here! >>

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

Re: inverted word order

CalifJim — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 05:59:59 GMT

Direct questions, sentences that start with a negative phrase or "only", and conditionals without "if" are the only cases that come to mind which trigger subject-verb inversion. I don't know of a specific website, but I'm sure a little Googling would reveal hundreds of possibilities.

CJ

Help with an Application Task for a CELTA course

K@t — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 17:00:05 GMT

Hello all,

I am applying to take a CELTA course and they gave me an application task to do before I can enter the program. I am having some difficulty with some parts and was wondering if some one would be willing to help me. I use msn messanger under hpainter24@hotmail.com feel free to add me and then we can go over the questions. I'm going to try posting some of the questions here.

1. Which is the âodd one outâ in each group, and why?

e.g.	a.	I had my hair cut last night.
	b.	I had seen the film before.
	c.	I had my car repaired at the garage.

Sentence b, because sentences a and c refer to actions that someone else did for the speaker. They are in the past tense. Sentence b refers to an action which the speaker did himself/herself and is in the past perfect tense.

A:	i.	The babyâs bottle.
	ii.	The nationâs struggle.
	iii.	The teacherâs ill.
	iv.	The nurseâs pay.
	v.	The governmentâs defeat.

Sentence ____

B:	i.	The woman was robbed by a stranger.
	ii.	The actor was interviewed by a journalist.
	iii.	The tree was hit by lightning.
	iv.	The trains passed by a river.

Sentence ____

C:	i.	She must have lost the address.
	ii.	Alan must have been here too.
	iii.	That must have been awful.
	iv.	The thieves must have gone in through the window.
	v.	I must have something to drink.

Sentence ____

D:	i.	Iâm not used to the noise yet.
	ii.	They used to work in a circus.
	iii.	Didnât there use to be a shop there?
	iv.	I never used to smoke.
	v.	It didnât use to be so dirty.

Sentence ___

2. Can you think of any exceptions to the following ârulesâ?

	âRuleâ	Exception
e.g.	âwillâ is used to express predictions without evidence.	âThatâll be John at the door.â This isnât a prediction without evidence. The statement is based on the fact that John always arrives at this time/he is expected.
A:	âtheâ is not used with the names of people.
B:	The past simple form of the verb is used to describe finished events or states.
C:	âsomeâ is used in statements; âanyâ in negatives and questions.
D:	âcanâ (modal verb) is used to express ability.

3. Identify any incorrect sentences in this list, supply the corrected version and explain the error.

	Sentence	Correction	Explanation
e.g.	What did you say was your name?	What did you say your name was?	The problem is one of word order. One question is embedded in another and the mistake is in giving them both the word order of a question. The second part âyour name wasâ isnât actually a direct question.
A:	Iâve been to China last year.
B:	He doesnât work as hard as she does.
C:	I would of liked to have seen that.
D:	If youâll wash up, Iâll do the ironing.
E:	I regret to have damaged your book.
F:	How long are you knowing Nathan?