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ESL forum >
Ask for help > Grammaticality
Grammaticality
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t.javanshir
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Grammaticality
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Dear colleagues, There is a sentence which was a matter of active controversy yesterday in our teachers � room: 1. I don �t know which genre of music is his favorite. 2. I don �t know which genre of music his favorite is. Both of them seem to be correct. Which one is correct in your opinion? Could you explain? Thanks Toofan |
24 Jan 2015
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cunliffe
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I �m English and they both sound fine. However, people generally use the second form. �I don �t know which genre of music his favourite is. � I �m sorry, I can �t give you an explanation. |
25 Jan 2015
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mariaot
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According to Swam, the correct order in this kind of sentences is Subject + Verb with all verbs: I don �t know which music she likes *I don �t know which music likes she The verb TO BE is an exception. It allows both positions: I don �t know where she is I don �t know where is she |
25 Jan 2015
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cunliffe
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I hope we get some more explanations and examples. �I don �t know where is she � is not right. |
25 Jan 2015
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Gi2gi
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Both sentences seem fine. Nevertheless, if I had to think of a grammar rule which favours the second option I would say that it is not normal for the verb "be" to stand before a subject unless it is in the interrogative form. As the sentece is not a question, the inverted word order ("is his favourite") might not be in compliance with srtict grammar dogmas. Anyway, it does not mean that such a form is not used as Cunliffe has kindly confirmed.
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25 Jan 2015
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mannouta
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The second answer is the correct one for it �s an indirect question |
25 Jan 2015
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redcamarocruiser
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I agree with Lynne that "I don �t know where is she" is not right *unless you punctuate it as "I don �t know. Where is she?", and to me "I don �t know which genre of music his favorite is" does not sound like a question. This is my take: | word order for emphasis | 1. I don �t know which genre of music is his favorite. Normal statement of fact. 2. I don �t know which genre of music his favorite is, (but I know he likes jazz because I was with him when he bought tickets to a jazz concert). If you wish to emphasize the word �favorite � then you can use the unnatural sounding word order placing the verb �is � at the end of the clause, but it needs further clarification of why you are emphasizing the word �favorite �. Standing alone the clause sounds incomplete or wrong, in my opinion.
--Mary |
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25 Jan 2015
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t.javanshir
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Thank you everyone for your kind contributions. In fact, I took the sentence from "Summit" books (TOP NOTCH SERIES), and the teacher �s guide says: I don �t know which genre of music is his favorite. Maybe, because "which genre of music" is the subject here.
Still looking for some more explanation since Cunliffe believes both are right.
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26 Jan 2015
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