I wonder "who she is" or "who is she"

[seagirl]

Hi all. I have a problem with using "wh-verb-subject " or "wh-subject-verb" in the following contents:

i wonder who is she.
i wonder who she is.

i wonder who is reading this.
i wonder who reads this.

I wonder what did she see.
I wonder what she sees.

can anyone tell me which ones are correct?

 

[Tdol]

In every case, the second is right. These are indirect questions, so shouldn't have question word order. ;-)

 

[seagirl]

Thank you :-D

 

[penybig2002]

I think 'i wonder who she is' is the correct one.

 

[seagirl]

Thanks Penybig 2002:-D

 

[Dixybig273]

Hi there,

In this situation, i wouldn't consider "I wonder 'who she is' or who is she'" as a question. It is not even a rethorical question. It is more like a speculation... If such is the case, I wonder "who she is" is the right answer.

Dixy

 

[seagirl]

Thanks Dixy :-D

 

[MehmetBaskan]

We can not say "I wonder who is she?"


The correct form is:"I wonder who she is?" ;-)

 

[Casiopea]

We can not say "I wonder who is she?" ;-)

Nice addition, Mehmet, and it's correct, but . . . could you tell us why? :-D :up:

 

[seagirl]

Hi all. I'm very happy to see your replies I have another question concerning the same issue here.

" Do you know how thunderstorm is formed? "
"Can you tell me who that girl is? "

Are they the correct way of asking questions?

 

[Casiopea]

You're welcome. :-D

Try,

Do you know how thunderstorms are formed? :up:
Do you know how a thunderstorm is formed? :up:
Can you tell me who that girl is? :up:

To form an object (e.g., that girl is) take the statement and move who to the front, like this,

Statement: That girl is who?
Object: . . . who that girl is?
Example: Can you tell me who that girl is?

That girl is the subject, is is the verb and who is the object, or in this case, since is is a form of the verb BE, who functions as a predicate nominal, technically speaking.

Other examples,

She is who?
I wonder who she is.

The next example does not require WH-movement. 'Who' is the subject,

John is reading this.
Who is reading this?
I wonder who is reading this? (grammatical) :up:

The example below requires WH-movement because what functions as an object in that sentence. When the WH-word functions as a subject movement isn't required:

She saw what?
I wonder what she saw?
I wonder what she did see? (did is added for emphasis)


She sees what?
I wonder what she sees?
I wonder what she does see? (does is added for emphasis)

Thunderstorms are made how?
Can you tell me how thunderstorms are made?

Hope that helps out some. :up: