Which Is Correct...?

[ChasonetteH]

Good Morning Across The Channel!

I am trying to clear something here.
Is it...

1. - Do you see each other often?
or
2. - Do you often see each other?

I thought the first version is correct, a teacher said the first is American, therefore "wrong" (well.......), while 2. is correct.

Can you help, please?
Thanks and have a nice Sunday, Helena

[Noraq]

...and why whould you argue with your Teacher? =)

[ChasonetteH]

Not my teacher -a teacher. I overheard her saying it. To me it sounded strange, as I have never heard it said this way before. When I am not sure, I try to find out.

[Calibax]

I think both are acceptable but I would prefer 2.
I believe strict grammatical rules state that adverbs of frequency (often, seldom, never etc.) should go directly before the main verb so 2 is more "correct"

[dannyk13]

No 2 is correct grammar

[NOX]

Either is pefectly fine and have been so in UK English for a very long time.

[Buenchico]

Purists and pedants detest 'split infinitives', claiming that they aren't 'proper English'.

For example, the introduction to 'Star Trek' infuriated many people by using the phrase "to boldly go". They pointed out that placing a word between 'to' and 'go' was splitting the infinitive form of the verb 'to go', which traditional textbooks state should never be done.

Similarly, purists would argue that 'to see' (or 'I see','you see', 'he sees', etc) must not be 'split' by including a central word. Hence (according to the purists) "you often see" is incorrect (because of the split infinitive).

However recently published guides to the use of English (including that followed by The Times journalists) argue that 'splitting infinitives' is perfectly acceptable.

So the answer to your question may well depend upon whether you're a 'traditionalist' or a 'modernist'. Unlike French, which has rules laid down by the 'Académie française', there is no official body which lays down formal rules for English. Everyone is free to adopt whichever convention suits them
(and, of course, their readers!).

Chris

[FoxLee2]

Surely saying 'do you often see...' is not splitting an infinitive. The infinitive of the verb is 'to see'?

[FredPuli43]

This teacher prefers 2, yet pedants objected to the intrusive adverb, be it in the infinitive or not. What was the reason for this supposed rule ? That breaking it makes for misunderstanding, or that the result looks or sounds ugly?

Two examples of how nuance, emphasis, meaning are changed by the position of the adverb:

" I happily overestimate" and "I overestimate happily" convey different meanings; the nuance of the first is that overestimating ,itself, is something I am proud of, and certainly happy about, whereas "I overestimate happily" conveys no more than that I'm happy while I'm doing it.

The intrusive adverb brings emphasis: "I boldly go" is drawing attention to me as ' I am bold and I am going', emphasising my boldness; but " I go boldly" lessens that as "I am going and in a bold manner".

Sometimes it just sounds better to have the adverb in the middle, it 'scans' better, sometimes it doesn't

And 'Do you come here often?' has been the cliched polite introduction to small talk for a very long time. It has not been 'Do you often come here?', perhaps because that puts too much emphasis on 'you' and 'often', as though the enquiry was about 'your' eccentric or odd behaviour in attending frequently!

[boxtops]

The point Foxlee asks about is that the verb is to see, so the question is "do you see.." - splitting the verb "you see" in "do you often see". It's not the infinitive, but version 2 seems more correct to me.

[mike11111]

Do you usually do that?
Do you do that usually?

Bot correct in my view but the first seems more natural in speech, especially if the 'usually' is stressed.

[jno]

both are absolutely fine. You will hear either form every day.

As FredPuli suggests, sometimes putting a word at the end is a way of placing more stress on it. But it's up to you whether you want to put extra stress on it or not. This is a matter of style, not grammar.

[parkie]

I suppose a lot depends upon where you put the comma also. (Or should that be, It also depends............etc?)
Such as that age-old song, 'What is this thing called love?'
What is this thing called,love?
What, is this thing called love?
What is this, thing called love?
What is this thing, called love?
And so on.

[ChasonetteH]

To all of you - thank you so much and have a great weekend.