I have a question regarding the word-order in interrogative sentences. I think, the following two statements are grammatically correct; however, how do I explain the difference between them? (That is, when do we use No.2?)
1. Who is Shakespeare?
2. Who Shakespeare is?
Can the second sentence be said in situations like in a classroom for, instance, when the lecturer says, “Let me tell you who Shakespeare is”? Or, when it is becomes a heading in the slide show that goes,
"Who Shakespeare is:
1. He is an old bard of England. 2. He is the playwright of several…"
Hello Braham, welcome to our forum and many thanks for asking your question. You have already answered it yourself correctly.
This is a direct question which has only one clause.
*Can you please tell me who Shakespeare was? *
*Do you happen to know who that attractive young woman is over there? * I wonder who the next president of the USA will be.
The sentences above are so called ‘indirect questions’ and they all have two clauses – the main clause which is a statement and the subordinate clause which is the question.
Please let me know if this makes sense. (By the way, this is an indirect question too )
As far as I understand the sentence above has only one clause which is a direct question starting with ‘would’. This makes it a direct closed question because technically it can be answered either with ‘yes’ or something similar or ‘no’. Please let me know if this make sense. Many thanks.
That’s what I thought too. But you see I found it identified as an indirect clause on an English learning site like this one really…
Specifically, so:
’ When can we discuss this problem? – Direct question which in some cases is not very polite; e.g. when asking your boss to discuss a payment problem.
Would it be possible to discuss this problem soon? – Indirect question which is considered more polite; e.g. a politer way of stating that there is a problem you want to talk about.’
I think there is a distinction between grammar on the one hand and style and function on the other. Grammatically speaking a question starting with ‘would it be possible’ is a closed question, at least in my book. But of course the function of this question is to express a wish in a polite way rather than putting someone on the spot. If you analyze the grammar of ‘How are you?’ you will find that technically it’s an open question. However, the purpose of this phrase is not ask for any information at all but rather to meet a social standard. Please let me know if this makes sense.
I understand what you’re saying and thank you for the explanation.
So it has an indirect meaning, not a straightforward one. Right?
Grammatically it’s a direct question.
But what confused me was that the specific ‘page’ was supposed to demonstrate the grammatical distinction of direct and indirect questions.
Quite frankly, I find their distinction a bit confusing because they classify the following as an indirect question:
Do you have any idea what time it is?
I get what they mean but you could argue as you have done that the first part (‘Do you have any idea…’) actually is a very direct question both in terms of grammar as well as purpose. This is the reason why I don’t like this type of sites that try to explain ‘grammar rules’ using tables and charts. That’s not how language works and in many cases this approach hinders language acquisition more than it facilitates it.
I would also say there’s probably something wrong with the work done on that specific page.
Now, about tables and charts I think they are great as long as they are designed right and information in there is correct.
Maybe I don’t understand exactly what you mean about tables and charts. But it’s okay. You don’t have to trouble yourself about that too.
You probably mean that direct interaction is needed to override misunderstanding.
What I’m trying to say is that it’s impossible to dissect language into grammar and vocabulary. Language is a very complex system and there is a big misconception when it comes to language acquisition. The term ‘grammar rules’ is very misleading. Rules are usually created by institutions such as the traffic rules or the rules kids should stick to when they are being taught in a classroom.
However, there is no authority or institution that creates any rules for the English grammar. So, strictly speaking there is no such thing as ‘grammar rules’. There are only usage patterns people like linguists analyze and write about but linguists don’t create rules. Please let me know if this makes sense.
I’m afraid, I must confess, I don’t understand. I’ve never heard that before: ‘there are no grammar rules’. That sounds like the way children pick up the language intuitively…
If there really were grammar rules which authority or institution would have created them? How would that institution make sure the rules are really followed?
Well, I would have to read those articles and get back to you with what I think the soonest possible cause after a certain time of the day I get very slow…
Thank you very much though for caring to clarify things to me!
We’ll see how it goes…
He was both a bard or rather the Bard and the playwright of several tragedies and comedies, but he was also an actor.
In literature a bard is a poet. However, ‘bard’ is much more than a synonym for poet. It was someone who liked writing lyrical verses. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was called the Bard of Avon, the town in which he was born, Stratford-upon-Avon. Over the years, however, the meaning changed somewhat; it no longer referred to merely a poet but also to someone who was very talented and well-known. William Shakespeare was one of those 16th-century literary geniuses who deserved the title because his poems and plays reached wide audiences. He was also one of the reasons why the Elizabethan Era (the reign of Queen Elizabeth I -1533-1603 -) is regarded as one the most glorious periods in English history. The Shakespearean Moment coincided with this turbulent, but substantially successful milestone, which is also known as The Tudor Age (1485-1603).
The works of William Shakespeare include: Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and The Taming of the Shrew which was beautifully made into a film in 1967, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was directed by Franco Zeffirelli
A few of Shakespeare’s contemporaries were, among others, 1) Edmund Spenser (1552-1599), 2) Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), 3) Ben Jonson (1594-1637) and 4)Thomas Kyd (1558-1594).
The Faerie Queene, an allegory to honour the Tudors.
Hero and Leander, relates to Hero, a priestess from Aphrodite, and Leander, a young man. They fall in love with each other, (Greek mythology)
On My First Sonne, a poem on the death of Ben Jonson’s first son, Benjamin.
The Spanish Tragedy, about a ghost that wants to take revenge on a murderer. Later a similar plot was used in in Hamlet and Thomas Kyd is often proposed as the hypothetical Ur-Hamlet.
So, ‘rules’/guidelines are needed. You just have to enhance them with use in natural (as much as possible) context…
Not dry preoccupation with grammar exercises…?
)
How is that?