He can grasp!

[RoseSpring]

A teacher is saying this about his student. Is it correct?

I want to know how much can he grasp?

 

[euncu]

A teacher is saying this about his student. Is it correct?

I want to know how much can he grasp?

I want to know; how much can he grasp? (Some may use a comma instead of the semi-colon)
I want to know how much he can grasp?

 

[billmcd]

Just a minor point, but neither are questions.

 

[euncu]

Just a minor point, but neither are questions.

You are right for the second one, my mistake. But for the first one, I'd like to know your opinion. Because I think it needs a question mark.

I want to know; how much can he grasp?
I want to know how much he can grasp.

 

[billmcd]

No, neither statement is a question and therefore no question mark, even though a question is indirect and implied and it would possibly generate a response from the listener. If the statement were simply, "How much can he grasp? then, of course, it is question.

 

[BRENOIRONMAIDEN]

No, neither statement is a question and therefore no question mark, even though a question is indirect and implied and it would possibly generate a response from the listener. If the statement were simply, "How much can he grasp? then, of course, it is question.

:up: :up:

 

[RoseSpring]

No, neither statement is a question and therefore no question mark, even though a question is indirect and implied and it would possibly generate a response from the listener. If the statement were simply, "How much can he grasp? then, of course, it is question.

Thanks indeed, I usually got confused in such matter. Thanks for help.

 

[Abstract Idea]

I want to know; how much can he grasp?
I want to know how much he can grasp.

Neither statement is a question and therefore no question mark, even though a question is indirect and implied and it would possibly generate a response from the listener. If the statement were simply, "How much can he grasp? then, of course, it is question.

If the first one is not a question, how do you justify the inversion of the auxiliary?

 

[billmcd]

Regardless of whether the auxiliary is inverted in the examples and use of a semicolon, it remains an implied question that does not require a question mark. Further, from a grammatical perspective "to know how much can he grasp" qualifies as an infinitive phrase that is the object of "wants". And finally, the sentence structure in the first example, while not terribly bad, is a little awkward.

 

[Abstract Idea]

Regardless of whether the auxiliary is inverted in the examples and use of a semicolon, it remains an implied question that does not require a question mark. Further, from a grammatical perspective "to know how much can he grasp" qualifies as an infinitive phrase that is the object of "wants". And finally, the sentence structure in the first example, while not terribly bad, is a little awkward.

So you mean that the first (awkward) example is grammatically correct irrespective of the auxiliary inversion?

I want to know; how much can he grasp.
I want to know; how much he can grasp.

Just to confirm, are the sentences above, although a little awkward, both correct?

 

[billmcd]

Yes, they are OK.

 

[RoseSpring]

Which one is the correct one then?

How much he can grasp.

 

[billmcd]

Which one is the correct one then?

How much he can grasp.

If you state it in that way, without "I want to know", then it is a question and you must use a question mark (?)