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Inversion in questions

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Tan Elaine

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Jun 29, 2008
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1. What is in your bag? May I know what is in your bag?

2. What is your name? May I know what your name is?

I believe it is not correct to say May I know what is your name? If I am correct, why is there no inversion in the first underlined question, but inversion is needed in the second underlined question?

Thanks.
 
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5jj

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Oct 14, 2010
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In the first, 'what' is the subject of the verb 'is'; in the second, 'your name; is the subject of the verb 'is'. In both cases, the subject precedes the verb - there is no inversion.
 
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