[Grammar] I asked him "was he...".

[uktous]

Hi,

Question:
Is my sentence correct in speaking (not writing)?
Mistakes may exist at the connection between "him" and "was"

Sentence:
I asked him a question.
I asked him was he confident that he could arrive on time.

Thanks

 

[buggles]

Hi,

Question:
Is my sentence correct in speaking (not writing)?
Mistakes may exist at the connection between "him" and "was"

Sentence:
I asked him a question.
I asked him was he confident that he could arrive on time.

Thanks

You'd be more likely to say,

"I asked him if he was confident............."

or

"I asked him whether he was confident.........."

buggles (not a teacher)

 

[mmasny]

You'd be more likely to say

But is it correct? I'm also interested in this question.

 

[buggles]

But is it correct? I'm also interested in this question.

I suspect it is - just - especially if it had a comma..........

I asked him, was he confident that he could arrive on time.

Maybe an English teacher could give us a more definite answer.

 

[uktous]

I suspect it is - just - especially if it had a comma..........

I asked him, was he confident that he could arrive on time.

Maybe an English teacher could give us a more definite answer.

Hi, i will "speak" this sentence, not "write".

So, "comma" is not suitable.

 

[2006]

"if" or "whether" should be added where buggles indicated.

 

[buggles]

Hi, i will "speak" this sentence, not "write".

So, "comma" is not suitable.

Point taken, but a comma usually indicates a slight pause, so if you say, "I asked him (pause) was he.........." then I suspect that would be acceptable.

 

[Barb_D]

I really don't agree.

I asked him, "Are you..." as a direct quote.
I asked him if/whether he was... as an indirect quote.

The comma makes it no more correct.

 

[buggles]

My comments refer only to conversation. If the speaker was telling a friend about a conversation he'd had with someone else, "I asked him (pause) was he confident......." although not good, seems acceptable enough.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi,

Question:
Is my sentence correct in speaking (not writing)?
Mistakes may exist at the connection between "him" and "was"

Sentence:
I asked him a question.
I asked him was he confident that he could arrive on time.

Thanks

With a comma after "him", it's perfectly OK.

 

[kfredson]

With a comma after "him", it's perfectly OK.

I agree. It is common to use such a construction in speaking. If you were writing this, it would be more common to rearrange it. However, with a comma it is at least acceptable.