[Grammar] 'what are you talking about?' and 'About what are you talking?'

[Dinusha]

Why the question 'About what are you talking?' is incorrect? and

The question "To whom are you talking" is correct?


I know the question 'what are you talking about?' is the correct question.but why can't we move the preposition 'about' before what(like 'To whom are you talking')

 

[Rover_KE]

Why is the question 'About what are you talking?' [STRIKE]is[/STRIKE] incorrect? Who says it's incorrect? It's just very formal.

Is the question "To whom are you talking?" [STRIKE]is[/STRIKE] correct? Yes, it is. Note the correct way to ask questions.

I know the question 'what are you talking about?' is the correct question, but why can't we move the preposition 'about' before what (like 'To whom are you talking?')

We can move it. Who says we can't? It just sounds more formal and isn't used in casual conversation.

 

[Dinusha]

Practical English Usage (Michael swan's) (page 466) says,

"Prepositions often come at end of wh-questions,separated from their objects.
......e.g:-What are you talking about? (Not -About what are you talking?)
...........-Who did you buy the ticket from?.."

 

[Matthew Wai]

We can move it.

Can we move it like these?
'You are talking about what?'
'You are talking to whom?'

Not a teacher.