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Mexico flagMarco
Difference between "[auxiliar] [subject] [verb]" and "[subject] [auxiliar] [verb]" Sometimes I have noticed that these kind of expressions are used, for example: a) They want to walk all day. b) Do they want to walk all day. The confussing part to me is that the second one (b) is not a question! And I have seen this even with other auxiliary verbs, like "will, would, could, should" etc. How and when should I use this kind of expressions? (the second one: (b)). I appreciate your help! Marco

Answers · 6

2
(b) is a question... whoever wrote it accidentally put a period instead of a question mark.
1
B sounds like a question to me. The only time I can think of for the B construction would be with the verb 'Should' and then it would be used as a clause but never as a sentence in itself. Example: Should they want to walk all day, we would plan some outdoor activities for them. In that sentence it's probably subjunctive, but I don't remember the rule/explanation for it. It definitely sounds too formal though. I can't imagine myself ever saying that. Maybe if I were writing something, but not in a conversation. If you could give some more examples of the B construction that you've seen, it might help people think of the rule behind it. It's also quite possible that it's a question and they forgot to put a question mark, as Joel pointed out.
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It really helps!! Thak you so much for your time and help :D
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I believe these sentences are supposed to sound poetic, and that's why the author is using unusual constructions. For example, 'The whole universe will I use to do this,' is probably fine grammatically, but I don't think anyone would ever talk that way, or even write that way. It sounds very unusual. If you've ever seen the movie Star Wars, the character Yoda talks like this and that's how they establish that his character is alien. It's easy to understand the meaning, but no one would ever talk that way. Enjoy your book, but I wouldn't use it as a guide for how to speak or write in English. :) Hope that helps!
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I'm reading this book called "Conversations with god" and I have found a few sentences that are in the form I'm dealing with, for example: - "I will contrive to bring you the answer. The whole universe will I use to do this." - "Yet will I give you these guidelines: etc, etc, etc" - "Let your love propel your beloveds into the world and into the full experience of who they are. In this will you have truly love." I notice that they are not questions, they are kind of confusing to me. I appreciate any help.

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