grammaticality - “I do not know where … is” vs. “I do not know where is …”


Which of the following sentences is correct in a formal context? Both? If possible, please also explain why each of these sentences is correct/incorrect.



I do not know where the best place to ask this question is.


I do not know where is the best place to ask this question.




Answer



The first one is correct in formal and informal contexts. The second sentence would not be used by a native speaker.


The reason is that there is a difference in the way that English handles wh-words, when they are in the main clause vs. when they are in the embedded clause. The structure also depends on whether the wh-word is the subject or the object in its clause.


In the main clause, we use the basic order: wh-word verb ______.



Where is the best place to ask this question?



This is true when the wh-word is the subject or the object, although you'll notice we use do-support when the wh-word is the object (when the main verb is not is):




  • Who told you that? (who is the subject, no do-support)

  • Who did you tell? (who is the object, use do-support)



When the wh-word is inside of an embedded clause, the verb doesn't move to the front of the clause; only the wh-word moves. For example:




  • I was wondering [who told you]? (corresponds to "who told you?" in main clause)

  • I was wondering [who you told]? (corresponds to "who did you tell?" in main clause)



(In other languages, this pattern is not the same; it is an arbitrary feature of English.)


Since where is the object in this case (and usually is in general), it follows the second pattern, so: "I do not know where ... is".


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