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Firerypyro Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Word order

Hello again guys, i would like to ask which of the following is correct.
1)Can you ask whether they have it?
2)Can you ask whether have they got it?
The word order for a question (verb+subject) is used for the first clause (can you ask) or the second clause (whether...)?
Thanks in advance guys ! Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

Hi I don't know if they have got it. Can you ask if they have got it?

— Optilang

  • Hi I don't know if they have got it.
  • Can you ask if they have got it?
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7 Answers
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Hi

I don't know if they have got it.

Can you ask if they have got it?
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As for your original sentences, firerypyro, only this one is the correct word order: 1) Can you ask whether they have it?
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Thanks for your help. However, could you please tell me why is the second option wrong? I thought that since it is a question, we should use the word order(verb+subject)?
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The question is formed with 'Can you ......?

Look at my first examples for the word order.

I don't know whether they have got it.

NOT

I don't know whether have they got it.

Can you ask them?

Can you ask whether they have got it.

'Whether' is not a question word
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firerypyro1)Can you ask whether they have it?2)Can you ask whether have they got it?
Only 1 is correct. Don't use question word order when the question is embedded in another structure.

CJ
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Thanks for your help guys and sorry to trouble again. However, could you please help me with my doubt? From what i know, we use the word order for a question. The option 2 is clearly a question, isn't it? . Why can't we use the word order for it?
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2) (X) Can you ask whether have they got it?
2)Can you ask whether they have got it?

The question is 'Can you?', not 'Have they?', firerypyro.
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