What is the difference between these two sentences:
1 ) Please tell me why is it like that. (should I put question mark at the end)
2 ) Please tell me why it is like that. (should I put question mark at the end)
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2 Answers
The first question is more inquisitive and could be rephrased to be: "Please explain why it is like that."
The second question is of a slightly more confronting nature and could be rephrased to read: "Please prove to me why it is like that."
answered Nov 7, 2013 at 14:15
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Please tell me "why is it like that?" / Please tell me why it is like that. Jan 9, 2019 at 8:40
1) Please tell me why is it like that. [grammatically incorrect unless the punctuation is changed.
Please tell me: Why is it like that?
The question: "Why is [etc.]" is a question form in English:
- Why is the sky blue?
- Why is it that children require so much attention?
- Why is it [or some thing] like that?
When that form is put into what is called indirect speech, it becomes:
- Please tell me why the sky is blue.
- Please tell me why children require so much attention.
- Please tell me why it's like that.
The question form becomes a statement and therefore, the clause must follow the subject + verb rule for a declarative sentence with no subject and verb inversion.
2) Please tell me why it is like that. [correct]
Please tell me why [etc.]is not a question. Therefore, it would take no question mark. You can see that the first three examples above are questions and take a question mark at the end.