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Aleilei Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Sentence order in "How come" interrogative sentence

It's a line I heard in FRIENDS: "how come you guys have never played poker with us?"

I'd like to know why this sentence is not said like this "how come have you guys never played poker with us?"

If I replace HOW COME with a WHY. Should the sentence be "why you guys have never played poker with us?", or "why have you guys never played poker with us?" ?

Thank you!
  

Top answer

" However, "how come ... " works like "why is it that ... "

— Mr Wordy

  • " However, "how come ...
  • " works like "why is it that ...
  • "
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4 Answers
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If you use "why", it should be "Why have you guys never played poker with us?"

However, "how come ... ?" works like "why is it that ... ?", so the parallel is:

"How come you guys have never played poker with us?"

"Why is it that you guys have never played poker with us?"
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aleileiI'd like to know why this sentence is not said like this "how come have you guys never played poker with us?"
The subject-verb inversion is hidden in the abbreviated form "how come": How (does it) come (about that) you guys have never ...?"

CJ
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Good job CalifJim, you had it well elucidated.
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