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Navitasan Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Why do scientists think

Can one use:
1) Why do paleontologists think that dinosaurs became extinct?
Instead of:
2) Why, according to paleontologists, did dinosaurs become extinct?

One answer to sentence '1' could be: 'Because there are no dinosaurs around.'
That could not be an answer to sentence '2'.

Is '1' ambiguous?

Gratefully,
Navi.
  

Top answer

navitasan Is '1' ambiguous? Only if it's asked as a Christmas cracker joke.

— Fivejedjon

  • navitasan Is '1' ambiguous?
  • Only if it's asked as a Christmas cracker joke.
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3 Answers
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navitasanIs '1' ambiguous?
Only if it's asked as a Christmas cracker joke.
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Thank you very much Fivejedjon,

So '1' can't be used instead of '2'?

Gratefully,
Navi.
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Yes, it can. It's simply an informal alternative to #2.
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