Comment on can you say “what it means?” as proper english?
H1jAcK@lemm.ee 3 days ago
As in asking for the meaning of something? It would be more correct to phrase it as, “What does that mean?” But especially if English clearly isn’t your first language, “What it means?” will probably get the point across well enough
s0larfl4re@sh.itjust.works 3 days ago
that makes sense, thank you!!
schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 3 days ago
The technical term you’re looking for is this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do-support
English is somewhat weird in how to form questions and negations, most other languages don’t do this kind of thing.
PP_BOY_@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Wish I knew more about language mechanics like this. Always fascinates me
schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 3 days ago
My first language is German and this was one of the first lessons we ever got in English: how to form questions and that you need to use the verb “do” to do that.
And then we later had to learn the exceptions like “be” and “can” because “do you be stupid?” and “do you can swim?” are definitely not valid English.
knightly@pawb.social 2 days ago
Likewise!
Are you familiar with the best kep secret in English, Adjective Ordering?
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjective#Order