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Rpleite Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Prepositions in interrogatives

Hi,

I've got a question about the use of propositions in interogatives.

For example:

What do people spend the most money on?

The latter may be the formal way of asking this. Could I use the preposition on at the beginning of the question, such as:

On what do people spend the most money?

Is the latter form wrong? could I use it in spoken english without sounding rude?

thanks
  

Top answer

" -- This is the normal form. " -- This is not very conversational. ) Some people might argue that this version is formally more correct, but it feels a bit convoluted to me even in writing.

— Mr Wordy

  • " -- This is the normal form.
  • " -- This is not very conversational.
  • ) Some people might argue that this version is formally more correct, but it feels a bit convoluted to me even in writing.
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3 Answers
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"What do people spend the most money on?" -- This is the normal form.

"On what do people spend the most money?" -- This is not very conversational. (It is not in any way rude to use it in ordinary conversation, just not very natural.) Some people might argue that this version is formally more correct, but it feels a bit convoluted to me even in writing.
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Hi Mr. Wordy, thanks for your reply.

So, in your opinion, can I use both forms and still make me understood?
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rpleiteSo, in your opinion, can I use both forms and still make me understood?
Both forms will be understood, but, as I explained, it is more natural in everyday English to say "What do people spend the most money on?"
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