Can I see what <the result is> <is the result>?

TrishaOko

TrishaOko

Member
Bulgarian
Hello my helpers always. I appreciate your time and help every time you wrote to me. Thank you

Can you please help me and tell me what is this rule name? And how to understand it?

Which one is right:

1) Can I see what the result is?
2) Can I see what is the result?

3) Could James understand what was his plan? (How dangerous and stupid it was)
4) Could James understand what his plan was? (How dangerous and stupid it was)


I don't understand which one is right and why? I don't know the name of these rule at all too


Thank you so much
 
    • TrishaOko said:
    Hello my helpers always. I appreciate your time and help every time you wrote to me. Thank you

    Can you please help me and tell me what is this rule name? And how to understand it?

    Which one is right:

    1) Can I see what the result is?
    2) Can I see what is the result?

    3) Could James understand what was his plan? (How dangerous and stupid it was)
    4) Could James understand what his plan was? (How dangerous and stupid it was)


    I don't understand which one is right and why? I don't know the name of these rule at all too


    Thank you so much
    Click to expand...
    It's an "embedded question rule." An embedded question is a question inside another question.

    In a direct question, two steps happen: (1) the "what" (which represents an unknown) is moved to the front, (2) the subject and auxiliary verb switch places. Thus,

    The result is (what/an unknown) ~ What is the result?

    In an embedded question, step (1) happens, but step (2) doesn't, which means that the subject and auxiliary verb don't switch places; they remain where they are:

    Can I see what the result is?

    This is the "rule" for embedded questions, and it's standard usage. But keep in mind that, in syntax, "rules" refer to "processes" (how things happen when they happen), not to things that people must do. And some people do step (2) as well, making the subject-auxiliary verb switch (Can I see what is the result?) perhaps to maintain the direct question structure.
     
    SevenDays said:
    some people do step (2) as well, making the subject-auxiliary verb switch (Can I see what is the result?) perhaps to maintain the direct question structure.
    Click to expand...

    Thank you sooo much for many details. It is very helpful to me. Thank you.

    Is it right when people do like this? Is it grammar correctly? Or it's very wrong and spoken English like? Should I follow this example or I need to use good grammar English and do as you explained above according to rules?

    Thank you
     
    TrishaOko said:
    Thank you sooo much for many details. It is very helpful to me. Thank you.

    Is it right when people do like this? Is it grammar correctly? Or it's very wrong and spoken English like? Should I follow this example or I need to use good grammar English and do as you explained above according to rules?

    Thank you
    Click to expand...
    As a learner, I would just follow the standard usage, and I wouldn't worry about what some people do in their own use of language.
     
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