Why linux always wins? / Why does linux always win?

Question

Hi.I'm ESL newbie and this is my first questions I'm struggling to understand what is the difference between:Why linux always wins? andWhy does linux always win?I'm having problems with forming question sentence and this case got me even more confused. Something tells me what the first sentence is more appropriate but I don't quite understand why - maybe it's a subject question (when why is it subject question then)? or it's more appropriate in informal context in which I tried using the first statement.I will be very appreciated if somebody will not just point at the right statement but will describer why is it so (if i'm not asking too much) Also what is the difference in forming question with 'what' and 'why' (if any) question words?Thanks in advance!

Kooyeen · Accepted Answer

Hi, welcome to EnglishForward.

You know, your question kind of puzzles me.

Why does linux always win?
That is definitely the normal question, the neutral one. You are just asking the reason why Linux always wins.

Why linux always wins?
This one should be wrong, but for some reason it doesn't sound foreign to my ear. But then again, I am not a native speaker, so what's so special about my ears? LOL. I think this question is actually fine when you are surprised. Like when you say:
- He has ten computers!
- What? He has ten computers? Whoa, that's crazy, man.

In other words, it's not a real question, it's more like a statement that sounds like a question because you are not sure about it, it's surprising.
But I am not completely sure "why linux always wins?" can't be used as a normal question. I am afraid my native language is confusing me, or it might be used in some dialect, I don't know.

CalifJim · Answer

Welcome to English Forums!

I'm struggling to understand what is the difference between:
Why linux always wins?
and
Why does linux always win?

The first one is wrong.

Take the statement form: Linux always wins.
If there is only one verb (wins, not can win, won't win, is winning, had won, or anything like that), and that one verb is not a form of to be (is, are, am, was, were), change it to the form with do or does or did. wins --> does win.

Linux always does win.

Move do or does or did to the front. Add the question word in front of it.

Why does Linux always win?
____

Examples:

1. The train arrived at 8 o'clock. When?

The train did arrive ---.
When did the train arrive?
____

2. George had three kittens for sale. What?

George did have --- for sale.
What did George have for sale?
____

3. Lucy put the milk on the table. Where?

Lucy did put the milk ---.
Where did Lucy put the milk?

CJ

Cool Breeze · Answer

sha1dyWhy does linux always win?

If you want a question, only the above sentence is correct (with a capitalized Linux). Why at the beginning has nothing to do with the presence of does; you would have to use does even without the why: Does Linux always win?
However, it is possible to omit does when Why Linux always wins is used as a heading for a newspaper article, for example. This is actually quite common as well. When does is omitted, Why Linux always wins isn't a question at all but a heading for an account of or an explanation for why Linux always wins. Without does, the article isn't asking a question about Linux. It is explaining the reasons for the success of Linux.
CB

MrPernickety · Answer

I'm not a native speaker, but I guess you can hear the first one said in an interrogative tone of voice in this context:

((do) you wanna know) why Linux always wins?

Here the question is located in the first clause, which I suppose can be ommited in leisure conversation.

Sha1dy · Answer

Thanks CB - I was confused with such articles when I googled around and now you provided me the explanation I was missing!
Thanks again!

Why linux always wins? / Why does linux always win?

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