Page 89 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

w h - c l a u s e
V e r b + Wh-clause
+
verb
wh-word
a
clause
beginning with
by
a
(how, what, when,
followed
where,
A Some verbs can be followed by a clause beginning with a wh-word (how, what, when, where,
be
Some verbs can
which, who, or why):
which, who, or why):
looking unhappy.
explain
why he's
That might
• ¢ That might explain why he's looking unhappy.
consider how we can
Let's
solve the problem.
• ¢ Let's consider how we can solve the problem.
I couldn't decide which train I ought to catch.
• ¢ I couldn't decide which train I ought to catch.
•j^^ Other verbs like this include arrange, calculate, check, choose, debate, determine, discover,
Other verbs like this include arrange, calculate, check, choose, debate, determine, discover,
discuss, establish, find out, forget, guess, imagine, know, learn, notice, plan, realise, remember,
discuss, establish, find out, forget, guess, imagine, know, learn, notice, plan, realise, remember,
see, talk about, think (about), understand, wonder.
say,
say, see, talk about, think (about), understand, wonder.
verbs can also be followed by a wh-word (except 'why') + to-infinitive:
These
These verbs can also be followed by a wh-word (except 'why') + to-infinitive:
I don't understand what to do.
• ¢ I don't understand what to do.
calculated how much
back
on the
of an envelope.
to pay
• ¢ She calculated how much to pay on the back of an envelope.
She
if we change the subject in the wh-clause we can't use a to-infinitive:
But notice that if we change the subject in the wh-clause we can't use a to-infinitive:
But notice that
like about jazz,
(but not I can't imagine what to...)
I can't imagine what you
• ¢ Ican't imagine what you like aboutjazz. (but not I can't imagine what to...)
verbs
must
have
object
D Some verbs must have an object before the wh-clause:
before the
an
wh-da.use:
Some
n • ¢ She reminded me where I had to leave the papers.
reminded me where I had to
leave the papers.
She
• 45 • ¢ We told Derek and Linda how to get to our new house.
told Derek
Linda how to get to our new house.
and
We
this
warn. The verbs
ask and
include
•j/0q Other verbs like this include advise, inform, instruct, teach, warn. The verbs ask and show often
often
like
instruct, teach,
show
advise,
inform,
Other verbs
have an object before a w^-clause, but not always:
have an object before a wh-clause, but not always:
get to the station,
and he told me.
I asked (him)
how I could
• ¢ I asked (him) how I could get to the station, and he told me.
followed
+ wh-word +
be
object
to-infinitive:
also
an
by
verbs
can
These verbs can also be followed by an object + wh-word + to-infinitive:
These
She taught me how to play chess.
• ¢ She taught me how to play chess.
I showed him what to look for when he was buying a second-hand car.
• ¢ I showed him what to look for when he was buying a second-hand car.
instead
P ©We can often use the way instead of how:
can
use
often
of how:
the way
©We
Have you noticed the way he spins the ball, [or ...how he spins the ball.)
• * • © Have you noticed the way he spins the ball. (or ...how he spins the ball.)
n whether
whether
^
We can use whether as the wh-word in a wh-clause when we want to indicate that something is
We can use whether as the wh-word in a -clause when we want to indicate that something is
similar meaning to
a
are
Whether has
'if:
also possible.
things
but that other
possible,
possible, but that other things are also possible. Whether has a similar meaning to 'if:
the computer
whether he had turned
He couldn't remember
off.
• ¢ He couldn't remember whether he had turned the computer off.
Can you find out whether she's coming to the party or not.
• ¢ Can you find out whether she's coming to the party or not.
never
be
a
to-infinitive:
followed
is
but 'if
used
a
before
by
to-infinitive,
Whether can
^Whether can be followed by a to-infinitive, but 'if is never used before a to-infinitive:
• “© • ¢ They have 14 days to decide whether to keep it or send it back.
They have
keep it or send it back.
14 days to decide whether to
Verbs that are often followed by whether + to-infinitive include choose, consider, debate, decide,
• uf^ Verbs that are often followed by whether + to-infinitive include choose, consider, debate, decide,
discuss, know, wonder.
determine,
determine, discuss, know, wonder. of sentences below. The first has a wh-dause with
Reporting questions == see whether he was injured. (= (suggests that the university was shut)
C
between
the
the pairs
difference
Notice
Notice the difference between the pairs of sentences below. The first has a wh-dause with
that-dause
the
a
Unit 44):
has
(see
also
second
whether and the second has a that-dause (see also Unit 44):
whether and
I didn't know whether the university was shut.
(= if the university was shut or not)
• ¢ I didn't know whether the university was shut. (= if the university was shut or not)
university was shut,
I didn't know that the
• * I didn't know that the university was shut. (suggests that the university was shut)
if he was injured or not)
We couldn't
• ¢ We couldn't see whether he was injured. (= if he was injured or not)
see
We couldn't
that he was injured,
(suggests that he was injured)
• ¢ We couldn't see that he was injured. (suggests that he was injured)
11 and whether =
Wt andwhether=
=>
Reportingquestions: