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what is this "what"?

 
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utage



Joined: 06 May 2006
Posts: 14

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 7:02 am    Post subject: what is this "what"? Reply with quote

Is "what" in the following sentence grammatically called "indirect question" or "relative pronoun"? and why?

I cannot guess what he was attempting.

I think both are OK....
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2006



Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 610

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wouldn't call "what" an indirect question. The speaker is not expecting an answer. Maybe he is only responding to a question the other person asked.
I think "what" is a pronoun here.
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Mary W. Ng



Joined: 26 Jun 2006
Posts: 261

PostPosted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:40 am    Post subject: Re: what is this "what"? Reply with quote

Quote:
Is "what" in the following sentence grammatically called "indirect question" or "relative pronoun"? and why?
I cannot guess what he was attempting.
I think both are OK....

What can be an interrogative pronoun or a relative pronoun meaning `the thing that'.
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Mary W. Ng
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