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Question Word + To Inf

The document discusses the use of question words before the to-infinitive structure to express indirect questions. It notes that question words like "what", "where", "how" can be used before "to do", "to go" etc. to ask about what should be done or where to go. It provides examples of verbs that can be used before question words in this structure, like "know", "think", "wonder". The document also discusses using nouns after certain question words and using "whether" but not "if" in these indirect question structures.

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Minh Thư
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106 views

Question Word + To Inf

The document discusses the use of question words before the to-infinitive structure to express indirect questions. It notes that question words like "what", "where", "how" can be used before "to do", "to go" etc. to ask about what should be done or where to go. It provides examples of verbs that can be used before question words in this structure, like "know", "think", "wonder". The document also discusses using nouns after certain question words and using "whether" but not "if" in these indirect question structures.

Uploaded by

Minh Thư
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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+ A question word can be used before a to-infinitive to express an indirect question about what

should be done. For example :

.I don’t know what to do. (Here the structure ‘what to do’ is the object of the verb know.)

.We must find out what to do next.

.I don’t know where to turn for help.

(special note) Note that a question word + infinitive cannot stand alone. We cannot say ‘what to do’.
Instead we must say: ‘What shall we do?’ or ‘What is to be done?’

+ The question word + infinitive structure can be changed into a noun clause. For example :

.I don’t know what to do means I don’t know what I should do.

.I don’t know where to turn for help means I don’t know where I should turn for help.

+ Structures with what to do, where to go, etc :


Before the question word we can use a verb such as ask, decide, discover, discuss, explain,
find out, forget, know, learn, remember, say, think, understand, wonder. For example :

.It was a real problem. I couldn't think what to do.

.We were wondering where to park the car.

Sometimes there is a verb + object before the question word. In this structure we can use
advise, ask, show, teach and tell. For example :

.Tom showed me how to change a wheel.

.The guide didn't tell the tourists when to be back at the coach.

+ Before the question word we can also use the adjectives clear, obvious and sure and the
expressions have an idea and make up your mind. For example :

.I wasn't sure who to ask for help. Claire doesn't have much idea how to cook.

A preposition (e.g. of) can come before the question word. For example :

.There's the question of who to invite to the reception.

.You need to be informed about what to do in an emergency.

Lets move on

+ Why, what, whose, which and whether

(special note) We cannot use why before a to-infinitive.

For example : No one could explain why we had to wait, NOT No-one-could- explain-why-to-wait.

+After what, which, whose, how many and how much, we can use a noun. For example :

.Sarah and Mark were discussing what colour to paint the walls.

.We wondered whose story to believe - both drivers said it wasn't their fault.
.It's difficult to know how much luggage to take with you.

We can use whether but not if. For example :

.We'll have to decide whether to go ahead with the project (or not).

NOT We'll have to decide if to go ahead.

.Melanie wasn't sure whether to ring the doctor or not.

. I was wondering whether to order some tea.

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