Hi,

What makes you think it's wrong?

Clive

Some might prefer the inversion:

'What did you say your name WAS? '

For example, me. But I'd call it the non-inverted case.

Your name was what > What your name was (Subj

AnonymousWhy is 'what did you say was your name' wrong ?

From what I've read in books on English usage, it should be 'What did you say your name was?', not 'What did you say was your name?'

We should say:

1. 'What is your name?'

2. 'May I know what your name is?'

3. Could y

Hi,

Lots of options. I wouldn't call this exchange wrong or rare:

Q - What did he say was his name?

A - He said 'Tom' was his name.

Best wishes, Clive

According to 'Modern English Usage' by Fowler, an indirect question is the grammarian's name for a modification of what was originally a question.

Direct question: Who are you?

Indirect question: I asked who he was.

NOT I asked who was he.

Indirect question: Tell me who you are.

NOT Tell me who are yo

Hi,

According to 'Modern English Usage' by Fowler, an indirect question is the grammarian's name for a modification of what was originally a question.

I don't see an 'original question' at the start of this exchange.

It sems to me that the conversation could be something like

A: Tom is my name. (This is a statement, not a questio

In the New York Times, in questions with ?:

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http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0D10FE3E540C718CDDAD0894DE404482

... did you say your name was?'' he asks. ...

April 2, 2006 - B

But according to the New York Times, Clive's version is OK too for direct assertions (not questions):

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