0
Tonyscott Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Is this sentence grammatical?
That hazy weather has hit 104 cities in China lately, which makes citizens well aware of what a terrible problem China is faced with.
In my experience, all such sentences (object clause with wh-)can be changed into a question:
I know who he is.---Who is he?
The book will show you what the best CEOs know.---
What do the best CEOs know?
But I have difficulty changing this sentence into a question. So, is this sentence grammatical?
In my experience, all such sentences (object clause with wh-)can be changed into a question:
I know who he is.---Who is he?
The book will show you what the best CEOs know.---
What do the best CEOs know?
But I have difficulty changing this sentence into a question. So, is this sentence grammatical?
Top answer
The sentence is correct, but it is a different meaning of "what". In the sentence about CEOs, "what" is a pronoun meaning "which things". In the sentence about China, "what" is a determiner that modifies "a terrible problem", intensifying or drawing attention to those words.
- The sentence is correct, but it is a different meaning of "what".
- In the sentence about CEOs, "what" is a pronoun meaning "which things".
- In the sentence about China, "what" is a determiner that modifies "a terrible problem", intensifying or drawing attention to those words.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
7 Answers
0
The sentence is correct, but it is a different meaning of "what". In the sentence about CEOs, "what" is a pronoun meaning "which things". In the sentence about China, "what" is a determiner that modifies "a terrible problem", intensifying or drawing attention to those words.
00
GPY"what" is a determiner that modifies "a terrible problem", intensifying or drawing attention to those words.So, do you mean "...well aware of what a terrible problem China is faced with." = "...well aware of a terrible problem China is faced with.", but the tone of the former one is stonger(the problem is more terrible)?
00
tonyscottSo, do you mean "...well aware of what a terrible problem China is faced with." = "...well aware of a terrible problem China is faced with.", but the tone of the former one is stonger(the problem is more terrible)?In concept roughly yes, but actually it is more complicated. If you remove "what" then it is natural to change to the definite article, an
00
Now I find the article puzzling.
Let me start with some questions:
What color are your baby's eyes?
In what language was this book written?
In these sentences, the noun after the word "what" has no article. I think the situation is the same when it comes to object clauses:
I know what color your baby's eyes are.
I know what language the b
Let me start with some questions:
What color are your baby's eyes?
In what language was this book written?
In these sentences, the noun after the word "what" has no article. I think the situation is the same when it comes to object clauses:
I know what color your baby's eyes are.
I know what language the b
00
tonyscottSo, is it "..well aware of what terrible problem.." or "..well aware of what a terrible problem.."?For the intended meaning it must be "what a terrible problem". "what terrible problem" doesn't flow naturally to me in that sentence, but it would mean "which terrible problem", i.e. there are several candidate terrible problems, and citizen
00
Ok, now I feel clearer about this sentence
. But can you give me some examples of this "what", which as you've said intensifies or dr
. But can you give me some examples of this "what", which as you've said intensifies or dr00
Other examples:
"I know what a hard time you've had."
"They didn't understand what a risk they were taking."
"Someone should tell him what an idiot he is."
Exclamatory sentences can be made out of the "what a ..." phrases:
"What a hard time you've had!"
"What a risk they were taking!"
"What an idiot he is!"
"I know what a hard time you've had."
"They didn't understand what a risk they were taking."
"Someone should tell him what an idiot he is."
Exclamatory sentences can be made out of the "what a ..." phrases:
"What a hard time you've had!"
"What a risk they were taking!"
"What an idiot he is!"
0
Related Questions