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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Grammar question
Grammar question
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Miri_920
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Grammar question
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Hi everybody!
I would like to know the theory explanation of why we write:
-How much did the plane ticket cost?
Instead of:
- How much did cost the plane ticket?
Thanks!
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8 Feb 2011
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coyote.chus
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Hi.
The structure for past simple questions is:
Wh. element (if it is a wh question) + DID +Subject + bare infinitive
How much + did + the plane ticket (subject ) + cost (verb)
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8 Feb 2011
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almaz
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Chus is perfectly right. Bear in mind that, when translating, Spanish syntax isn �t always the same as English. |
8 Feb 2011
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ananthajyothi
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In regular English The order is mostly S V (O) -- subject - verb - object; and seldom V (O) S
Jyothi |
9 Feb 2011
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lalla99
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Something to add:
�did � is the auxiliary verb. We change the position of the auxiliary with the subject in questions.
Did he get the job? How long did the journey take?
In other tenses the same rule applies: Are you coming with us? When are they opening the new swimming pool? Why have you forgotten my present?
I think this is a common problem for many speaking a Latin-based language as almaz says. If you practise Yes- and No-style questions again, they are simpler. Then keep the same word order for open questions as a general rule. 
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12 Feb 2011
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