I have a question...

Question

Is, '"is the fish at?" proper grammar?Thanks in Advance!

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Is, '"is the fish at?" proper grammar?

Not if that is the complete sentence.

Clive

Sam1947 · Answer

If you mean, "Where is the fish at?" Then, no, that is not proper grammar.

Not because, as many would think, you ended the sentence with a preposition. There is no hard and fast rule against that, but there is usually a more graceful way to phrase sentences in formal writing. But, in this case, and in all cases where the question is "where is X thing AT?" the problem is that "at" is redundant.

Where is the fish? There is no reason for the "at".

The only type of sentence I can think of that would be correct and include "is the fish at" would be something akin to, "Is the fish at risk for contracting a virus or bacterial infection from being in that dirty tank?"

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Or you could say 'Is the fish at the bottom of the lake?'

Clive

I have a question...

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions