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Why in this sentence the writer wrote the subject before verb to is after why

English Language Learners Asked on January 17, 2021

From Alice in Wonderland:

You promised to tell me your history, you know,’ said Alice, ‘and why it is you hate – C and D,’ she added in a whisper, half afraid that it would be offended again.

I noticed that the writer wrote “why it is” instead of “why is it”? Isn’t that a question?

2 Answers

(note C and D means cats and dogs, Alice is talking to a mouse, who is scared at the word "cat" and so she is using a euphemism)

Alice isn't asking a question.

"Why is it you hate C and D? This is question

"why is it you hate C and D" This is not a question

It is a noun phrase that means "The reason for you hating C and D"

So the mouse promised to tell Alice two things, its history (ie the tale of its life) and the reason it hates cats and dogs."

         It turns
          out that
           this 
           mouse
           has a
           very
          long
           tail
            !!
             !

Compare this to

What is it? (question)

I will tell you what it is. (noun phrase)

Answered by James K on January 17, 2021

The word order changes since it is a kind of indirect question.

Why is it that you hate politics? (direct question)
Tell me why it is that you hate politics? (indirect question)

Answered by kandyman on January 17, 2021

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