For whom the bell tolls?

[thebossfan]

Hi, next doubt,
We have: Who hit David? and Who Did David hit? It is ok, cos this example I have in my book, but:
"For whom the bell tolls" Is it a question or not, and what does it mean
"Whom Does the bell toll for" what does it mean? :|

[svartnik]

Originally Posted by thebossfan

Hi, next doubt,
We have: Who hit David? and Who Did David hit? It is ok, cos this example I have in my book, but:
"For whom the bell tolls" Is it a question or not, and what does it mean
"Whom Does the bell toll for" what does it mean? :|

IT is a relative clause

I do not know for whom the bells toll.
I do not know whom the bells toll for.

In a indirect question, there is no subject-verb inversion

Compare:

I do not know what I did. -- correct
I do not know what did I. -- wrong syntax

[boothling]

There's a discussion of the history and meaning of the line here.

[thebossfan]

Yeah, but I am not talking about meaning but about grammar: Whom does the bell toll for: is it a question? And For Whom the bell tolls (is it a question or just not)

[curmudgeon]

It's a statement.

[Anglika]

Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee