Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
appraisal; estimation; assessment
affiliate
accordance
effort
evaluation
TOEIC test: Word games: Free Online Adverb Noun Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why...



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
meaning of Smoothie | When exactly is 'next Monday'?
Message Author
Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why... Thu Jul 13, 2006 3:57 am  Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why...
 

Hi teachers Very Happy

Is there any difference between the following sentences?

Why do you think your art programmes are so popular?

Do you think why your art programmes are so popular?


Are they both the same in meaning?

Thanks in advance

Jupiter
jupiter
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 204
Location: Cambodia

Why do you think...? Thu Jul 13, 2006 8:14 am  Why do you think...?
 

jupiter wrote:
Why do you think your art programmes are so popular?

Do you think why your art programmes are so popular?


Are they both the same in meaning?

Hi Jupiter
Your first sentence asks for an opinion.

It's fairly unlikely anyone would say the second sentence. (Other verb tenses or wording would be more typical.) But, as your second sentence stands, it does not actually ask for an opinion. Instead it asks whether someone ever thinks about or considers the reason for the popularity.

Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7891
Location: USA

Want to learn about the future tenses? Read this story and smileStart exploring the English language today! Subscribe to free email English courseEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!
Thanks Fri Jul 14, 2006 5:35 am  Thanks
 

Hi Yankee

Thanks again for your answer.
I'm more clearer than before, but I can't differentiate between their answers.
Could you please give me the sample answers to both questions?

Why do you think your art programmes are so popular?

Do you think why your art programmes are so popular?


Thanks so much

Jupiter
jupiter
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 204
Location: Cambodia

Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why... Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:05 am  Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why...
 

Hi Jupiter

Here are possible ways to reply to each question:

Why do you think your art programmes are so popular? "I think it's probably because they're so creative and well-planned. And our advertising also seems to generate a lot of interest."

Do you think why your art programmes are so popular? "Yes, I always do."
(Maybe the person knows that the only reason is that the programmes are popular is because they're extremely cheap. So, for example, he doesn't want to consider any expensive improvements since that would just cost money, raise prices and possibly eliminate the main reason the programmes are popular. Therefore, it's important to always keep in mind the reason why the art programmes are popular.)

Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7891
Location: USA

Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why... Fri Jul 14, 2006 15:36 pm  Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why...
 

If I may put in my tuppence worth here, I'd like to add that the use of commas in the first sentence can make a difference in meaning:

Why do you think your art programmes are so popular? means that you think your art programmes are very popular and I'm asking you why you think so. We are not sure they are popular, though.

Why, do you think, your art programmes are so popular? means that your art programmes are very popular and I'm asking you what, in your opinion, the reason for it is.

To avoid confusion, I would suggest rewriting the second sentence as follows:

Do you ever stop to think why your art programmes are so popular?

Or simply:

Do you ever wonder why... ?
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2717
Location: Madrid, Spain

Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why... Fri Jul 14, 2006 17:25 pm  Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why...
 

Hi Conchita Very Happy
It's amazing what a pair of commas can do. Very Happy

Jupiter, I'd be interested in knowing where your second sentence came from. Were those 2 sentences a little test you made for yourself? Or did you find those 2 sentences somewhere? Or did somebody give you those 2 sentences to sort out? Cool

Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7891
Location: USA

Thanks Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:33 am  Thanks
 

Thanks Yankee and Conchita,

Your explanations are really helpful.
Actually, I create the second sentence by myself. But the first one is taken from New Headway Intermediate. It looks similiar and my friend and I found it hard to differentiate between them. So far, I'm more clearer about it.

Thanks for your trouble

Jupiter
jupiter
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 15 Dec 2005
Posts: 204
Location: Cambodia

Display posts from previous:   
meaning of Smoothie | When exactly is 'next Monday'?
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why... All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
'frightened myself' versus 'frightened me'Difference between 'hear' and 'hear of/about something'The as yet unspokenSeize the avidity upon...Expression: "Fall in one's own eyes"What the 's here stands for?"Langdon" vs "him"Expression: "...presence is punctuated..."Expression "Make the brunt..."Hi Alan, I am waiting for you reply for two my postings...Does the phrase 'a changeable person' make sense?Change and alterLike versus Enjoy"forget to do" versus "forget doing""Dead" versus "Death"Meaning of "cemented local loyalties"Informal English language learningRegarding Prepositions 'With' versus 'In'Why do you think... VERSUS Do you think why...

Discover English-test.net
What does fetch mean?Idiom: 'the ball is in your court'My boss ... a salary increase. He ... the announcement this morningIs Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English wrong?MCAT verbal word list: Vocabulary for Non English Speakers: English Verb Noun AdjectiveMCAT prep test: Word games free: Online Verb Noun Adjective GameDefine connect, binary fission, musculoskeletal system, cheek, acclimatize, jerkPimsleur French, Comprehensive Courses I, II, III: Plus Audiofy Player (Bookchip Player Solutions)Grammar activity: Elementary English GrammarD-Day and Beyond: Forgotten Voices of the Second World War audiobook download

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course written by Alan Townend
First name E-mail