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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

word order

which is correct and why:
What means this word? or what does this word mean?

Is it that the first is old English while the second is use more commonly today?

Thanks

Louise
  

Top answer

" is correct. " is not.

— Fivejedjon

  • " is correct.
  • " is not.
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4 Answers
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"What does this word mean?" is correct.
"What means this word?" is not.
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Can anyone explain why 'What means this word?' is wrong though?

Is it that English has evolved and this is old English usage?
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Louise CCan anyone explain why 'What means this word?' is wrong though?Is it that English has evolved and this is old English usage?
What means this word? is wrong for the simple reason that it isn't used. You are right about it being old. Like the other Germanic languages, no do/don't was used in English in questions and negative clauses until
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Can anyone explain why 'What means this word?' is wrong though?
"What means this word?" is wrong because it doesn't follow the rules of writing an English question sentence.
"What does this word mean?" does follow the rules.
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