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May I ask a question ?

 
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shellymiao



Joined: 14 Jul 2007
Posts: 4
Location: shanghai

PostPosted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:15 pm    Post subject: May I ask a question ? Reply with quote

You won't know who is the murderer until you __ the end of the novel .
a.reach b.get c.arrive d.meet
which one is right ? and tell me why .
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pinenut



Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 165
Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

PostPosted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:37 pm    Post subject: Re: May I ask a question ? Reply with quote

shellymiao wrote:
You won't know who is the murderer until you __ the end of the novel .
a.reach b.get c.arrive d.meet
which one is right ? and tell me why .


You won't know who is the murderer until you reach the end of the novel . <<-- This is the correct answer.

You won't know who is the murderer until you get to the end of the novel .

You won't know who is the murderer until you arrive at the end of the novel .

You won't know who is the murderer until you meet the end of the novel . <<-- This one is not idiomatic, that is, it is not commonly used in everyday English.
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2006



Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Posts: 610

PostPosted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You should say, 'You won't know who the murderer is until.......'.
"who is the murderer" is the correct grammar for asking a question; so it is not correct here.
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pinenut



Joined: 16 Feb 2006
Posts: 165
Location: Illinois, U.S.A.

PostPosted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 9:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

2006 wrote:
You should say, 'You won't know who the murderer is until.......'.
"who is the murderer" is the correct grammar for asking a question; so it is not correct here.


I think both are grammatically correct depending upon the meaning you would like to convey. In other words, it will depend upon whether 'who' is the subject of the clause in question or not. If there are several characters in the book who are potential suspects, you will eventually find out who (the subject of this clause) will turned out to be the murderer. Then you will know who (the subject of this clause) is the murderer.
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shellymiao



Joined: 14 Jul 2007
Posts: 4
Location: shanghai

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank you very much indeed .
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Lorikeet



Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco

PostPosted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

"You won't know who is the murderer" doesn't sound good to me. I know it's said sometimes, but "You won't know who the murderer is" seems much better to me.
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