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#2 (permalink) Tue May 23, 2006 16:30 pm All+Who: Who all in your company were fired? |
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Hi Kamaal
The "standard" question would be:
"Who (in your company) was fired?"
The question was altered here, however, to emphasize that that the person wants details about more than one person. He/she is probably aware that more than one person was fired and wants to know about all of the people who were fired:
"Who all in your company were fired?"
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#3 (permalink) Tue May 23, 2006 18:52 pm So, is it correct? |
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Ms Amy
Many a thank for the sudden response.
So I should understand it is not a standard question?
Please some more discussion.
Kamaal |
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Kamaal Guest
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#4 (permalink) Tue May 23, 2006 22:46 pm All+Who: Who all in your company were fired? |
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Hi Kamaal
For me, the "Who all" format is quite normal, but also feels more informal to me than the "standard" version of this question.
I would expect the most common version of "Who all" to be: "Who all was fired?" (In the US) But, possibly it's different in the UK.
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#5 (permalink) Wed May 24, 2006 0:41 am All+Who: Who all in your company were fired? |
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The question means, "Altogether, who in your company was fired?"
"Who all" also sounds informal to me. I agree that using was instead of were is more correct, because the who in a question is singular. |
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Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6552 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
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#6 (permalink) Wed May 24, 2006 4:32 am All+Who: Who all in your company were fired? |
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Hi,
I have lived in London since 1997 but this was the first time I read this sentence. |
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