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Old 10-May-2007, 19:31
DARBO666
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Default Who Ate The Cake Or Who Did Eat

Which one is correct and why?please support your anwers with a thorough linguistic account?
to make a wh-question for this sentence Peter ate the cake the underlined word to be asked about is Peter so which one is correct and why?who ate the cake or who did eat the cake? I know that the first is correct but I want to know why the second is incorrect .I'm an English Language Teacher in Saudi Arabia ,I'll be grateful if answer me
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Old 10-May-2007, 20:13
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Default Re: Who Ate The Cake Or Who Did Eat

Actually, they're both right.
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Old 10-May-2007, 21:15
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Default Re: Who Ate The Cake Or Who Did Eat

I have never come across "Who did eat the cake" in any widely-spread variety of English. "Who ate the cake" is the standard form (certainly in examinations and grammar textbooks).

There is a linguistic explanation at Wh-movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, but I'm not sure it helps.

Last edited by irpond; 10-May-2007 at 21:31. Reason: link added
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Old 11-May-2007, 15:53
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Default Re: Who Ate The Cake Or Who Did Eat

Quote:
Originally Posted by irpond View Post
I have never come across "Who did eat the cake" in any widely-spread variety of English. "Who ate the cake" is the standard form (certainly in examinations and grammar textbooks).

There is a linguistic explanation at Wh-movement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, but I'm not sure it helps.
Hmm. "Who did eat the cake" is not at all uncommon in British English.

'Who ate the cake?'
'Not me.'
'Nor me.'
'I didn't either.'
'Well someone must have. Who did eat the cake?'


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