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Mr. Tom Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

He asked me did I want to come or not.

Hi

Would you say that this sentence is OK in informal English? Should I use a question mark?

He asked me did I want to come or not.

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

This could be one of those phrasings that starts life as broken English but gradually increases in acceptibility on account of common usage, especially in conversation. ' I'm not so sure, today, that it is not OK.

— Ed_shaw

  • This could be one of those phrasings that starts life as broken English but gradually increases in acceptibility on account of common usage, especially in conversation.
  • ' I'm not so sure, today, that it is not OK.
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3 Answers
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This could be one of those phrasings that starts life as broken English but gradually increases in acceptibility on account of common usage, especially in conversation.
At one time, I would have said, "No, it is 'He asked me if I wanted to come or not.'
I'm not so sure, today, that it is not OK.
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Mr. TomHe asked me did I want to come or not.

"He asked me if I wanted to come or not" would be OK even in an informal register.
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I'm with Ed.

I would say it has to be "He asked me whether (or if) I wanted to come or not."

In another forum, they insist that with a comma, it's okay.

I don't agree. Is it commonly heard? Sure. Is is standard? Not to me.
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