I would use the sentence Do you know the boy swimming?, but JET wants to use Do you know the swimming boy?

Question

I am certain that as a native speaker my answer is correct but want to explain why it is correct, in simple form.
How do I do this, or am i completely wrong.

Answer 1

Your sentence is correct. The question is formulated correctly and the subject is the boy who is swimming. In the second sentence there is no subject, it's gibberish. Who is/are JET? The sentence, 'Do you know the swimming boy' is a typical translation from a latin language into English

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Answer 2

The correct way to say the sentence would be "Do you know the boy who is swimming?" or Jet's way works too. The way that you say it makes it sound like the boy you are asking about is called "swimming" which I am pretty sure is not what you meant.

Jet's sentence is more awkward, but more correct than yours unless you add who. But then common usage and correct grammar don't always go hand in hand anyway.

Answer 3

Your sentence is not wrong, but it would sound better if you said, "Do you know the boy who is swimming?" There is no such thing as a "swimming boy", because swimming is a verb, and you can't use a verb as an adjective. A verb shows action or a state of being, whereas an adjective is a word that describes something.

Answer 4

As another native speaker, JET's answer sounds more natural to me--I don't have any references, nor can I explain why, I only have a gift for what sounds right and what doesn't. Yours would be okay with a modifier of some sort--Do you know the boy swimming (in the lake)? :-)

Answer 5

Your sentence is correct but could sound better. Eg Do you know who the boy is swimming over there/in the pool/river etc.
However if you come from where I do, the boy `swimming` in the context of this sentence would refer to his surname.

Answer 6

The way you are using it, swimming would be a postpositive verbal adjective. You are correct. That is how a native American English speaker would generally phrase the question.

Answer 7

In the sentence you would like to use, the words 'who' and 'is' are missing, but are understood. That is, the meaning is clear; even though the words are absent from the sentence their implied prescence is understood.

The sentence would read, 'do you know the boy {who is} swimming. But the words aren't necessary because the meaning is still clear without them.

Hope I helped. God bless you.

Answer 8

Boy is swimming is the accepted order. Swimming boy is used by writers in a poetic sense.

Answer 9

Yeah you're wrong!

Your way infers that the boy is called "swimming" - which is an odd name for a lad!

Answer 10

try do you know the boy who is swimming becouse it explains what the boy is doing instead of do you know the boy swimming it dosnt really flow very well