Encontre Inglês Professores
ANI
Is this a straight line or does it curve?
Please help me to understand the grammar of this interrogative sentence.Why in the first time used (is) and then (does).
10 de jan de 2016 14:03
Respostas · 6
1
The line is either straight or curved. If it's curved.. it curves. If you're asking about whether or not it curves, you ask it if 'does' curve as the act of curving is, well, an act (verb).
You could even ask: is the line straight or curved? Or separate it into two questions, maybe: Is the line straight? Does the line curve?
(Note: technically, it's not a line if it curves: it's a curve).
10 de janeiro de 2016
1
Although it is natural to use that form of words, I think it is a question of style rather than grammar. All of these sentences are correct:
a) "Is this a straight line or is it curved?"
b) "Does this line go straight, or does it curve?"
c) "Does this line go straight, or is it curved?"
d) "Is this a straight line, or is it a curve?"
e) "Does this line go straight, or is it a curve?"
.... and many more.
The best reason I can give for the choice of words in your example is that, just possibly, we think that a line (or a road or a path) is naturally straight, and that curving is something that it actively does instead of going straight. So we frequently say that "the road curves" instead of "the road is curved." Similarly, we frequently say "the road forks" instead of "the road has a fork."
10 de janeiro de 2016
Ainda não encontrou suas respostas?
Escreva suas perguntas e deixe os falantes nativos ajudá-lo!
ANI
Habilidades linguísticas
Inglês, Russo
Idioma de aprendizado
Inglês
Artigos que Você Pode Gostar Também

Speak More Fluently with This Simple Technique
25 votados positivos · 4 Comentários

How to Read and Understand a Business Contract in English
20 votados positivos · 3 Comentários

6 Ways italki Can Help You Succeed in Your School Language Classes
15 votados positivos · 9 Comentários
Mais artigos