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Kooyeen Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Strange structure (Questions - Inversion)
Hi,
consider the following question:
Did you find that stuff in the dumpster, or did you actually buy it in a store?
That was the normal version. Now, what I find myself doing informally is using the affirmative structure in the second part or such questions, that is, I use no inversion. Here it is:
Did you find that stuff in the dumpster, or you actually bought it in a store?
I usually don't use inversion in particular questions like these...
He bought it on the net? = He bought it on the net, right? I think that's likely, that's what I expect. = EXPECTATION
He bought it on the net? = What? I can't believe it... He bought it on the net? Really? = SURPRISE
...and in those cases using the right intonation is very important too.
The problem is that in the compound questions I am asking about the questions are pretty neutral, yet I tend to avoid inversion in the second part, informally.
Did you find that stuff in the dumpster, or you actually bought it in a store?
Can anyone tell me whether this is completely odd or not? As always, I don't know where I might have picked this up. Thanks
consider the following question:
Did you find that stuff in the dumpster, or did you actually buy it in a store?
That was the normal version. Now, what I find myself doing informally is using the affirmative structure in the second part or such questions, that is, I use no inversion. Here it is:
Did you find that stuff in the dumpster, or you actually bought it in a store?
I usually don't use inversion in particular questions like these...
He bought it on the net? = He bought it on the net, right? I think that's likely, that's what I expect. = EXPECTATION
He bought it on the net? = What? I can't believe it... He bought it on the net? Really? = SURPRISE
...and in those cases using the right intonation is very important too.
The problem is that in the compound questions I am asking about the questions are pretty neutral, yet I tend to avoid inversion in the second part, informally.
Did you find that stuff in the dumpster, or you actually bought it in a store?
Can anyone tell me whether this is completely odd or not? As always, I don't know where I might have picked this up. Thanks
Top answer
Kooyeen I tend to avoid inversion in the second part, informally. Did you find that stuff in the dumpster, or you actually bought it in a store? Can anyone tell me whether this is completely odd or not?
- Kooyeen I tend to avoid inversion in the second part, informally.
- Did you find that stuff in the dumpster, or you actually bought it in a store?
- Can anyone tell me whether this is completely odd or not?
- Maybe not "completely", but it's odd (to my ear).
- I would do the inversion in both parts.
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4 Answers
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KooyeenI tend to avoid inversion in the second part, informally.Maybe not "completely", but it's odd (to my ear). I would do the inversion in both parts. I can't imagine where you picked up this
Did you find that stuff in the dumpster, or you actually bought it in a store?
Can anyone tell me whether this is completely odd or not?
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How about this: Did you find that stuff in the Dumpster or actually buy it in a store?
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Yes, I was going to suggest that one, too. That sounds more like normal English to me.
CJ
CJ
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