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Liveinjapan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

What's the problem?

She said, "What is the problem?"

She said what was the problem.
She said what the problem was.

Which is right?

I think the subject of the reported clause is 'what', so 'what was the problem' is possible like 'who wrote this.'

By the way, what is the difference between 'what's the matter' and 'what's the problem?'

Thanks
LiJ
  

Top answer

" - If she is asking the question. This would be better as "She asked what the problem was". "She said what the problem was" - If she said the problem.

— A Cornish Pasty

  • " - If she is asking the question.
  • This would be better as "She asked what the problem was".
  • "She said what the problem was" - If she said the problem.
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3 Answers
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These could both be right:

She said, "What was the problem?" - If she is asking the question.
This would be better as "She asked what the problem was".

"She said what the problem was" - If she said the problem.
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LiveinjapanBy the way, what is the difference between 'what's the matter' and 'what's the problem?'

Thanks
LiJ

"What's the problem" is often used aggressively.

Compare: What does the problem seem to be? What seems to be the problem? (Polite inquiry)
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This would be better as "She asked what the problem was".

"What's the problem" is often used aggressively.

Got it. Thanks, ACP and GG.
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