Duo who or duo that / indirect questions

DaCross · Dec 21, 2008

Hello,
I have two questions. Is it correct to write:

I recruited him to our department, at last reuniting the duo that won the Nobel Prize.
OR ...
I recruited him to our department, at last reuniting the duo who won the Nobel Prize.

If you begin a sentence with "Why don't you", is it considered an indirect question, not requiring a question mark? For example:

"Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself."
"Why don't you explain to us the rationale for building this facility."

Thank you for your time.

dpaterso · Dec 21, 2008

For the first, I'd go with "the duo that won" -- yes they're people, but "duo" is an impersonal singular.

For the second, these lines could be delivered so they sound like dry statements rather than questions, but methinks technically they're still questions so I'd include the question marks.

And dammit I've spilled tea over my keyboard. Your fault! ...Nope, sponged it up in time, all's well, carry on.

-Derek

alleycat · Dec 21, 2008

I'm pretty sure Derek is right about the use of "that". "That" is used for groups or classes of people.

On the second question, my first thought is a question mark is not required.

I'm no grammar guru. Maybe one of those fine folks will be around to give us the definite answer.

Maryn · Dec 21, 2008

I'd go for "duo that" or "duo which." A duo is not human, although it can be made of humans. I'd treat it the same as a company or business, an army, a fraternity, a union, and all the other collective nouns which round up humans.

I would use a question mark in the "why don't you..." sentences, too.

But hey, that's just me, and I'm wacky. Ask anybody.

Maryn, glad to meet you

RJK · Dec 22, 2008

Welcome to AW.

I'm not a grammar guru, but I don't think anyone would stone you if you used either that or who. You could make a case for both.

I'd end the question with a question mark.

Oberon · Dec 22, 2008

Just to be annoying, my question is about the "recruited him to. . . " I don't have an answer. Should it be "recruited him for"? Or "Recruited him to be grammarian (or whatever) in our department" ? I think recruited is complete in itself. Or is it like "invited?" I invited him to the party. Now I'm confusing myself, so I'll shut up.
Happy Holidays!

Ollie Saunders · Jan 5, 2009

Just to be annoying, my question is about the "recruited him to. . . " I don't have an answer. Should it be "recruited him for"? Or "Recruited him to be grammarian (or whatever) in our department" ? I think recruited is complete in itself. Or is it like "invited?" I invited him to the party. Now I'm confusing myself, so I'll shut up.

It's really a separate thread but I'll provide my thoughts anyway.

It depends on what follows:

I recruited him to eat all the waxworks.
I recruited him for Gerald, after he got hit by that anvil.
I recruited him as a geriatric with an agenda.

ideagirl · Jan 6, 2009

dpaterso said:
For the second, these lines could be delivered so they sound like dry statements rather than questions, but methinks technically they're still questions so I'd include the question marks.

They're not actually questions--they're suggestions. So, period and not question mark.

If there were question marks, I would hear them as actual questions asked in a questioning tone of voice--and that changes the meaning: it goes from a suggestion to something more like, "WHY DON'T you tell us about yourself?" (Subtext: You're supposed to tell us about yourself, so why the heck don't you?).

ideagirl · Jan 6, 2009

alleycat said:
I'm pretty sure Derek is right about the use of "that". "That" is used for groups or classes of people.

I agree. A duo is a set of two, in this case two people. But what if the set of people were slightly larger? Would you say "The Steelers are the team who won the Superbowl five times"? No, you'd probably say "the team THAT won."

When you're referring to people, a duo is a two-person team. So generally, whatever pronoun you would use with "team," you would also use with "duo" (or trio, foursome/quartet, quintet, etc.).

Duo who or duo that / indirect questions

DaCross

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

alleycat

Still around

Maryn

I Tried

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Oberon

Ollie Saunders

Silly man.

ideagirl

ideagirl