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Mr. Tom Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
"How many people were there?" vs "How many people there were?'
Hi
Could you please tell me which one of the following is correct and natural?
Could you please tell me which one of the following is correct and natural?
He asked me how many people were there?
He asked me how many people there were?
Thanks
Top answer
'' is the only correct choice here, because it seems to be a direct question. How can I solve this problem? direct question One of my pupils asked me how I can( not can I) solve this problem .
- '' is the only correct choice here, because it seems to be a direct question.
- How can I solve this problem?
- direct question One of my pupils asked me how I can( not can I) solve this problem .
- indirect question
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4 Answers
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Hi Tom,
I would say ''How many people were there?'' is the only correct choice here, because it seems to be a direct question.
How can I solve this problem? direct question
One of my pupils asked me how I can(not can I) solve this problem. indirect question
I would say ''How many people were there?'' is the only correct choice here, because it seems to be a direct question.
How can I solve this problem? direct question
One of my pupils asked me how I can(not can I) solve this problem. indirect question
00
This one is correct and natural:
He asked me how many people there were.
(No question mark. It's a statement of what someone asked. It's not a question.)
CJ
He asked me how many people there were.
(No question mark. It's a statement of what someone asked. It's not a question.)
CJ
00
Hi Tom
I'd say both are fine, but would be used for different reasons.
In your first sentence, the stress is on location (locative there).
"How many people were at the party?" --> He asked me how many people were there. (there = at the party)
The use of 'there' in your second sentence could be more existential.
"There are how many people being inte
I'd say both are fine, but would be used for different reasons.
In your first sentence, the stress is on location (locative there).
"How many people were at the party?" --> He asked me how many people were there. (there = at the party)
The use of 'there' in your second sentence could be more existential.
"There are how many people being inte
00
Pffff! I hadn't even thought of the adverb there = in that place!
CJ
CJ
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