Which one is correct? "Explain what this is?" or "Explain what is this?"

Question

Which one is grammatically correct?

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 03 '19 at 21:11

0

Your sentence, despite ending with a question mark (a period would be more correct), is an imperative sentence: "(You) please explain..."

Therefore, the noun comes before the verb and you say "Please explain what this is."

answered Oct 03 '19 at 21:11

PlutoThePlanet

Undergraduate Wannabe · Answer 2 · 2019-10-03T17:54:19.237

-2

Please explain what this is? -

edited Oct 03 '19 at 17:54

answered Oct 03 '19 at 17:46

Please explain what this is is COMPLETELY CORRECT. The alternative sequence is "technically incorrect" even though it's not uncommon among native speakers (and I'd say it's actually far more common among certain classes of non-native speakers). – FumbleFingers Oct 03 '19 at 17:52
ok, I see, I edited it – Undergraduate Wannabe Oct 03 '19 at 17:54
If you are going to post an answer, you need more than to just echo part of the question. Please state your reasoning and quote sources to justify it it possible. And why, in this case, the OP's alternative is not correct. – Peter Jennings Oct 13 '19 at 09:27

2 Answers2