David wrote:
> Not only that, but YOU misread my sentence. It WAS a question. <g>
>
> Dave
Here's the sentence for anyone who missed it:
"When a SEEMINGLY level-headed and intelligent person on this NG can't
make the distinction between a declarative statement and a question, I
wonder if there's any shred of hope of my posts EVER being understood
accurately?"
It WAS a declarative sentence. First, there came the introductory
subordinate clause. "When a SEEMINGLY level-headed and intelligent
person on this NG can't make the distinction between a declarative
statement and a question," has a subject (person), a verb phrase (can
make, with "not" as a modifier), and a direct object (distinction).
Then came the main clause. "I wonder if there's any shred of hope of
my posts EVER being understood accurately?" This, too, has a subject
(I) and a verb (wonder) and then a subordinate clause being used as the
direct object ("there's" is both subject and verb - "there" + "is").
But the clause is obviously declarative. It makes the statement "I
wonder". A question is NOT being asked, so the question mark should be
replaced with a period or an exclamation point, as your emotions
dictate. :)
It's true: I have WAY too much time on my hands sometimes.
David wrote:
> JLarsson wrote:
>
>
> For all that, you still missed the fact that the sentence asked a
> question! (The "I wonder... part)
>
> Dave
Dave - I was just having fun, but seriously - "I wonder" is actually an
indirect question, not requiring (or desiring) a question mark.
>From http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/question.htm
"Be careful not to put a question mark at the end of an indirect
question.
The instructor asked the students what they were doing.
I asked my sister if she had a date.
I wonder if Cheney will run for vice president again.
I wonder whether Cheney will run again. "
Regards -
JLarsson
Leon wrote:
> "David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>JLarsson wrote:
>>
>>
>>For all that, you still missed the fact that the sentence asked a
>>question! (The "I wonder... part)
>>
>>Dave
>
>
> Actually I believe it is a statement or declaration about something you are
> thinking about.
>
>
You mean you didn't couldn't hear my rising inflection at the end of the
sentence, making it a question (along with the words "I wonder")? :)
Dave
David <[email protected]> wrote:
>I cancelled just seconds after it appeared on my newsreader, so you
>might not see it. If you do see it, just ignore it.
>
>It isn't pertinent to the fine people of this NG!
>
>Dave
Too late. But it was funny.
--
Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently.
"David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> JLarsson wrote:
>
>
> For all that, you still missed the fact that the sentence asked a
> question! (The "I wonder... part)
>
> Dave
Actually I believe it is a statement or declaration about something you are
thinking about.
alexy wrote:
> David <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>I cancelled just seconds after it appeared on my newsreader, so you
>>might not see it. If you do see it, just ignore it.
>>
>>It isn't pertinent to the fine people of this NG!
>>
>>Dave
>
> Too late. But it was funny.
Not only that, but YOU misread my sentence. It WAS a question. <g>
Dave
"David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>>
> You mean you didn't couldn't hear my rising inflection at the end of the
> sentence, making it a question (along with the words "I wonder")? :)
Well no, I read it as a statement that oddly ends with a question mark.
But then I am a Texan. LOL
"JLarsson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Dave - I was just having fun, but seriously - "I wonder" is actually an
> indirect question, not requiring (or desiring) a question mark.
I wonder if that is true.
Edwin Pawlowski wrote:
> "JLarsson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
>>Dave - I was just having fun, but seriously - "I wonder" is actually an
>>indirect question, not requiring (or desiring) a question mark.
>
>
> I wonder if that is true.
>
>
OR, "I wonder if that is true?" <g>
Dave
Leon wrote:
> "David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>You mean you didn't couldn't hear my rising inflection at the end of the
>>sentence, making it a question (along with the words "I wonder")? :)
>
>
>
> Well no, I read it as a statement that oddly ends with a question mark.
> But then I am a Texan. LOL
>
>
Then the lack of a regional accent on my part must have thrown you off!
dave
On 12 Nov 2005 15:59:22 -0800, "JLarsson" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>David wrote:
>> JLarsson wrote:
>>
>>
>> For all that, you still missed the fact that the sentence asked a
>> question! (The "I wonder... part)
>>
>> Dave
>
>Dave - I was just having fun, but seriously - "I wonder" is actually an
>indirect question, not requiring (or desiring) a question mark.
>
>>From http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/question.htm
>
>"Be careful not to put a question mark at the end of an indirect
>question.
>
>The instructor asked the students what they were doing.
>I asked my sister if she had a date.
>I wonder if Cheney will run for vice president again.
>I wonder whether Cheney will run again. "
>
>Regards -
>
>JLarsson
JLarsson-
you're wasting your time. if you want to see details, search google
groups for David's previous nym- Bay Area Dave. all will be clear.
"JLarsson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> "Be careful not to put a question mark at the end of an indirect
> question.
>
> The instructor asked the students what they were doing.
> I asked my sister if she had a date.
> I wonder if Cheney will run for vice president again.
> I wonder whether Cheney will run again. "
>
> Regards -
>
> JLarsson
>
Thank God you folks aren't splitting infinitives or substituting
articles with conjunctions! <g> (Those are MY pet peeves.)
George
JLarsson wrote:
> David wrote:
>
>>JLarsson wrote:
>>
>>
>>For all that, you still missed the fact that the sentence asked a
>>question! (The "I wonder... part)
>>
>>Dave
>
>
> Dave - I was just having fun, but seriously - "I wonder" is actually an
> indirect question, not requiring (or desiring) a question mark.
>
>>From http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/question.htm
>
> "Be careful not to put a question mark at the end of an indirect
> question.
>
> The instructor asked the students what they were doing.
> I asked my sister if she had a date.
> I wonder if Cheney will run for vice president again.
> I wonder whether Cheney will run again. "
>
> Regards -
>
> JLarsson
>
I hear what you are saying, but there are TWO ways to SAY a sentence
such as "I wonder if Cheney..." One way is to say it with a level pitch
, making it a statement, and the other way is to use a rising inflection
to make it a question worthy of an answer by the listener(s).
Peace! :)
Dave