Consider the following 2 sentences:
1.) I asked who was the best student .
2.) I asked who the best student was.
When I am really asking a question but from inside a statement, I feel like the first one is the correct one to use. But the second one seems right too, but it doesn`t have the force of a question.When would be an appropriate situation to use the 2nd one ?
Please explain...
thanks !
2006-09-06 18:17:36 · 11 answers · asked by bio4susant 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
"I asked who the best student was" is just a sentence stating the purpose of you asking that particular question, it's not actually asking the question itself.
"I asked who was the best student" actually asks the question.
2006-09-06 18:23:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
1.) I asked who was the best student.
2.) I asked who the best student was.
HEY!!
The second sentence is the right one. You are not asking a question. It is a declarative sentence. The first one is dramatically wrong. You cannot use them interchangeably!!
Microsoft Word explains it like this:
"If your sentence includes a statement about a question rather than a direct question, the subject should come before the verb."
Get it? :)
2006-09-10 12:23:05 · answer #2 · answered by ←deadstar→ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The second question is non-threatening. Both questions are indirect questions as in talking to a third party rather than asking for an answer. Since the question is not currently being asked but is past tense, the implication is that you wanted to know in the second question and the first questions implies the student knows the answer.
2006-09-07 01:29:32 · answer #3 · answered by Professor K 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Both questions are reported speech or indirect speech. You are stating what you or someone else said. Because this event has already taken place, we use the past tense to report it. If you wish to write questions using reported speech, you can choose to write the question in the order in which it was said, (l asked who was the best student) or you can use the second option (I asked who he best student was). Both are correct.
2006-09-07 01:58:46 · answer #4 · answered by pattycarrillof 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of the fascinating things about English, which also makes it a nightmare to learn, is its extraordinary flexibility. Both of these sentences are correct. There are a number of other possible variations as well.
2006-09-07 01:24:57 · answer #5 · answered by Bethany 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
neither really asks a question, it (to me)sounds like your telling someone you did ask (like it already happened)
these are sentences.
the first one is a declaritve sentence and
the second one is more of an imperative sentence (depending on where you put your emphasis)it could also be declaritive
2006-09-07 12:42:20 · answer #6 · answered by lucky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think your missing a comma and quotes.
The second question to me establishes that there is already a "best student" (name not mentioned) and you want to know the type of person they are or were.
The first question is just you wanting the "best student" pointed out.
2006-09-07 01:29:18 · answer #7 · answered by C 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
both are alright. you should know that the english language is forgiving and liberal in structure. just remember subject verb noun. no offense to all the other languages in the world, well alright, complete offense to them, those languages just don't convey sense, leave it to the vikings to get the world communicating with one another.
2006-09-07 03:01:08 · answer #8 · answered by Lawrence Boyer,edinboro univ, pa 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Proper grammar: I asked, "Who is the best student?"
Get it? The other is correctly punctuated.
2006-09-07 01:21:39 · answer #9 · answered by C J 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are both grammatically correct. You can use them interchangeably.
2006-09-07 01:23:30 · answer #10 · answered by Nick 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋