Verb+WH clause Flashcards
Some verbs can be followed by a WH-clause.
By a THAT clause.
When followed by a WH-clause, can use the TO+INFINITIVE, unless there is a subject.
Explain, decide, consider, arrange, calculate, check, choose, debate, determine, discover, discuss, establish, find out, forget, guess, imagine, know, learn, notice, plan, realise, remember, see, say, talk about, think (about), understand, wonder.
That might explain why he is unhappy.
I couldn’t decide which train to catch.
Let’s consider how we can solve this problem.
I decided That I ought to leave.
Did you find out where to go?
I can’t imagine what he likes about jazz.
Some verbs must have an object before the THAT clause.
These verbs can be followed by the OBJECT+WH_CLAUSE+TO INFINITIVE.
The verbs ask and show not always have an object before THAT clause.
Ask, tell, remind, show, advise, inform, instruct, teach, warn.
She reminded me what I had to do.
I told Linda how to get to my house.
I asked (him) how to get to the station.
She taught me how to play chess.
I showed her where to put her coat.
We can often use THE WAY instead of HOW, referring to the route or meaning.
Go back the way you came.
Have you noticed the way he spins the ball?
We can use WHETHER similar to if.
IF is never used before TO+INFINITIVE.
Some verbs can be used before TO+INFINITIVE.
Decide, choose, consider, debate, determine, discuss, know, think about, wonder.
Other talking-about-choices verbs cannot be used with TO+INFINITIVE.
Ask, conclude, explain, imagine, realise, speculate, think.
He couldn’t remember whether he had turned the computer off.
You have 14 days to decide whether to keep it or not.
In formal contexts, we can use AS TO similar to about before a WH-clause.
Opinion was divided as to whether the report had a good quality.
Informal: Opinion was divided whether the report had a good quality.
