What do you think is the beauty of being a student?

Question

1. What do you think is the beauty of being a student? - In this sentence, why is there 'is'?

2. What do you think about the beauty of being a student? - I corrected this one.

I consider 1 sentence should have one finite verb, but in this sentence, there are verbs, think and is. So could you explain me why it is?

Number 2 sentence I corrected is gramatically correct? if not please explain me.

Thank you so much have a good day : )

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,
1. What do you think is the beauty of being a student? - In this sentence, why is there 'is'?
Consider these simpler versions.
What is the beauty of being a student?
What ( in your opinion ) is the beauty of being a student?

'What do you think' just makes it clear that your opinion is being requested.
What ( do you think ) is the beauty of being a student?
What is the beauty of being a student, do you think?

2. What do you think about the beauty of being a student? - I corrected this one.
This is OK. But the meaning is not exactly the same.
In #1, you are asking for a definition. I might answer 'The beauty is that you can drink a lot'.
But in #2, you are not clearly asking for a definition. I might just answer 'It's great'.

I consider 1 sentence should have one finite verb ,Do you really mean this as stated? A sentence can have many finite verbs.
but in this sentence, there are verbs, think and is. So could you explain me why it is?

Number 2 sentence I corrected is gramatically correct? Yes if not please explain me.

Clive

Mr1bin · Answer

Mr Clive, I really appreciat your detailed answer. It does help me and I didn't know A sentence can have many finite verbs.

E.g. I like playing soccor -> is ok, but I like play soccor -> is not.

So in my opinion, there is only one finite verb in a sentence. What did I misunderstand from you?

Clive · Answer

Hi,
I really appreciat your detailed answer. It does help me and I didn't know A sentence can have many finite verbs.

E.g. I like playing soccor -> is ok, but I like play soccor -> is not.

So in my opinion, there is only one finite verb in a sentence. What did I misunderstand from you?

You are talking about simple sentences. I meant that a sentence can also be compound or complex, thus having multiple verbs.
eg I like playing soccer and I hate playing tennis, which bores me.

Clive

Mr1bin · Answer

Mr Clive

I carefully read your answer and I found it that

What ( do you think ) is the beauty of being a student?

So, the clause 'do you think' is inserted clause right? ,which means it is optional so there is no problem with finite.

And your example

eg I like playing soccer and I hate playing tennis, which bores me.

in this example I only count 'like' as a finite verb, but playing(play is finite verb), is not finite verb. Moreover, you used conjunction 'and' therefore finite verb should be 2 which are like, hate.

Am I right to use the word, finite?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Yes,

Another example. I read books and I watch TV.
Two finite verbs in one sentence.

Clive

Mr1bin · Answer

Mr Clive, Thanks for the clear answer, and as you mentioned another example, I read books and I watch TV. It has 2 finite verbs in it, because of conjunction, and, which make sentence have 1 more verb. It that right, gramtically?

Clive · Answer

Hi,
That's the idea, yes.

Clive

Mr1bin · Answer

Thanks Mr Clive. I really appreciate your effort.

What do you think is the beauty of being a student?

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