How long do you think is this/ this is?

[wotcha]

1) How long do you think is this?

2) How ling do you think this is?



Which is correct?

[5jj]

How long do you think this is?

It is an indirect question,which does not require interrogative word order or a question mark. The direct question is 'How long is this?'

The indirect question in your sentence is introduced by a direct question: 'do you think?'

[emsr2d2]

How long do you think this is?

It is an indirect question,which does not require interrogative word order or a question mark. The direct question is 'How long is this?'

The indirect question in your sentence is introduced by a direct question: 'do you think?'

Am I misreading something in your post? We agree that "How long do you think this is?" is the correct answer but you then said it doesn't need a question mark.

Surely the indirect form would be "I asked him how long he thought it was" which clearly doesn't need a question mark.

I have a feeling I'm completely misreading what you wrote, though!

[5jj]

Am I misreading something in your post? We agree that "How long do you think this is?" is the correct answer but you then said it doesn't need a question mark.

No, I said the indirect question needs neither question mark nor interrogative word order. The direct question 'do you think?' does.

Surely the indirect form would be "I asked him how long he thought it was" which clearly doesn't need a question mark.

There are several ways of forming an indirect qustion around the direct question "How long is this?"

If we are simply reporting the question, then I asked him how long he thought it was is probably the most likely version. However, depending on what we want to say, there are many possibilities. The last two of the following examples are framed as direct questions:

I wonder how long it is.
Please tell me how long it is.
Do you know how long it is?
How long do you think it is?

An indirect affirmative statement can be contained within a direct question:

"My name is Gruntfuttock"
Did he say that his name was/is Gruntfuttock?

[emsr2d2]

Am I misreading something in your post? We agree that "How long do you think this is?" is the correct answer but you then said it doesn't need a question mark.

No, I said the indirect question needs neither question mark nor interrogative word order. The direct question 'do you think?' does.



Thanks, 5jj. I was completely misreading the first two lines of your reply as "How long do you think it is? It (the correct answer) is an indirect question..."

I thought you were saying that the correct answer was an indirect question. Period. I think I need more sleep.

[5jj]

I think I need more sleep.

No. I could have worded my original post more clearly. Your question has helped resolved doubts others might have had.