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Bbcics Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Tell me how old are you.

Hi, teachers,

I know we should say 'tell me how old you are'. However, do you think it is colloquially acceptable to say the other way: tell me how old are you. ?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Not really. " that would normally only be said to somebody clearly younger than yourself or if the age was being challenged. Tell me how old you are is a lot more polite in general occaisions.

— Dave Phillips

  • Not really.
  • " that would normally only be said to somebody clearly younger than yourself or if the age was being challenged.
  • Tell me how old you are is a lot more polite in general occaisions.
  • "
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4 Answers
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Not really. You can say "how old are you?" that would normally only be said to somebody clearly younger than yourself or if the age was being challenged. Tell me how old you are is a lot more polite in general occaisions.

You would never say "Tell me how old are you?"
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bbcics it is colloquially acceptable to say the other way: tell me how old are you. ?
Only with a pause to indicate that there are two sentences, thus:

Tell me. How old are you?

Not as one sentence.

And, by the way, it's not polite to ask people their age unless you know them very well.
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