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Tenacious Learner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Why 'What could he not see?' and not 'What he could not see?'

Hi teachers,
Why it is right to say, 'What could he not see?' and not 'What he could not see?'
Because if I use the contraction 'couldn't' then, it is right to say 'What couldn't he see?'

Thank in advance
  

Top answer

' Correct, as you know. " Also correct, but sounds archaic. Basically, English speakers have decided not to say this anymore.

— Clive

  • ' Correct, as you know.
  • " Also correct, but sounds archaic.
  • Basically, English speakers have decided not to say this anymore.
  • 'What could he not see?
  • ' Instead, English speakers prefer to say this.
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6 Answers
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Hi,
Why it is right to say, 'What could he not see?' and not 'What he could not see?'
Because if I use the contraction 'couldn't' then, it is right to say 'What couldn't he see?'

'What couldn't he see?' Correct, as you know.
'What could not he see?" Also correct, but sounds archaic. Basically, En
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Hi Clive,
Thank you so much for your reply.
Does this happen with any other modal verb that has 'not' in its information question?
Does this happen with every information question that has an 'auxiliary' and 'not' in it?

Thanks again
TS
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Hi,

I don't like to generalize but, broadly speaking, yes. and yes.

Write a few sentences, if you like.

Clive
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CliveWrite a few sentences, if you like.
Hi Clive,
Thank you for your reply.

What could he not finish?
Why may he not be on time today?
Where did he not go?

This one is also right, isn't it?
What could he neither see nor hear?

TS
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Hi Clive,
Thank you for your help once again.

Best,
TS
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