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Jeff Danville Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Why does VS why doesn't

When beginning a sentence asking why a person/group/thing does not do something, how should it be started? Which of these two sentences is correct (or more correct)? Why does nobody care? Why doesn't anybody care?

Which of these two sentences is correct? (or if they both are correct, which is more appropriate to use?)

"Why does nobody care?"
"Why doesn't anybody care?"

It seems to me that the first sentence would be correct, because if you did not use the contraction in the second sentence it would read:

"Why does not anybody care?"

Which just sounds so completely wrong to me.

Thanks!

  

Top answer

" "Why does not anybody care? These are all correct. " close behind, especially in casual conversation.

  • " "Why does not anybody care?
  • These are all correct.
  • " close behind, especially in casual conversation.
  • There are a few contractions (like the one you call attention to here) which people nearly always use only in the contrracted form.
  • Welcome to English Forums, Jeff.
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2 Answers
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Jeff DanvilleWhy does nobody care?"
"Why doesn't anybody care?"
"Why does not anybody care?
These are all correct.

"Why doesn't anyone care?" is probably the most commonly used form, with "Why doesn't anybody care?" close behind, especially in casual conversation.

There are a few contractions (like the one you call attention to
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Welcome to English Forums!

It seems to me that the first sentence would be correct, because if you did not use the contraction in the second sentence it would read:

"Why does not anybody care?"

All three are technically correct, but you're right about how strange the last one sounds without the contraction.

CJ

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