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Tenacious Learner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Question

Hi teachers,

Which one is correct?

a) My wife is in the kitchen, but I don't really know what is she doing?

b) My wife is in the kitchen, but I don't really know what she is doing.

Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

Thinking Spain what she is doing This word order is the correct one. , indirect) questions are in statement order in English. Only direct questions invert subject and verb.

— CalifJim

  • Thinking Spain what she is doing This word order is the correct one.
  • , indirect) questions are in statement order in English.
  • Only direct questions invert subject and verb.
  • CJ
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7 Answers
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Thinking Spainwhat she is doing
This word order is the correct one. Embedded (i.e., indirect) questions are in statement order in English. Only direct questions invert subject and verb.

CJ
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it should be not a question. I think the best answer is B
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I mean should not be. I am sorry for this mistake
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Hi CalifJim,

Thank YOU very much. I thought so! The student wrote 'a'.

TS
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Thank you for your reply. Don't worry about the mistake. We all make mistakes, don't we?Emotion: smile

TS
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Thinking SpainThe student wrote 'a'.
Let me give you a quick tip. One pattern that students seem to like, which is wrong, and which you can catch easily, is the use of auxiliary do, does, or did in an indirect question.

She asked me what does he like. Wrong. (She asked me what he likes.)

I don't know where do
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Hi CalifJim,

Yes, you are right. Some of them do it many times. But I always tell them, "Is it a question or a statement? Then, why do you use the auxiliary if it is an affirmative sentence? Do you really need it?"

TS
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