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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
In "wh + to R", wh can't be the subject of R?
When I have no idea who will go, can I say, "I don't know who to go." ?
It looks wrong. but I am not sure.
In a phrase "wh + to-R", does the R have to be always a transitive verb and the wh-pronoun(interrogative pronouns) be the object of the verb, as in "what to eat", "whom to go with"?
Is there no case wh-pronoun be the subject of the "to-R"?
who to go - (X, who can't be the subject of go)
whom to go with - (O)
who to eat - (X, who can't be the subject)
whom to eat = who to eat (O, whom or who is the object of eat)
Are all of these right?
It looks wrong. but I am not sure.
In a phrase "wh + to-R", does the R have to be always a transitive verb and the wh-pronoun(interrogative pronouns) be the object of the verb, as in "what to eat", "whom to go with"?
Is there no case wh-pronoun be the subject of the "to-R"?
who to go - (X, who can't be the subject of go)
whom to go with - (O)
who to eat - (X, who can't be the subject)
whom to eat = who to eat (O, whom or who is the object of eat)
Are all of these right?
Top answer
In the "who(m) to + verb" pattern, "who(m)" is always the object of the verb. "who(m) to go" is therefore incorrect by itself since "go" is not transitive. Instead of a single transitive verb, you can have a "transitive phrase" ending in a preposition, such as "who(m) to go with", "who(m) to go on holiday with", etc.
- In the "who(m) to + verb" pattern, "who(m)" is always the object of the verb.
- "who(m) to go" is therefore incorrect by itself since "go" is not transitive.
- Instead of a single transitive verb, you can have a "transitive phrase" ending in a preposition, such as "who(m) to go with", "who(m) to go on holiday with", etc.
- "whom" is formal.
- In everyday English, "who" is commonly used instead.
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2 Answers
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In the "who(m) to + verb" pattern, "who(m)" is always the object of the verb. "who(m) to go" is therefore incorrect by itself since "go" is not transitive. Instead of a single transitive verb, you can have a "transitive phrase" ending in a preposition, such as "who(m) to go with", "who(m) to go on holiday with", etc.
"whom" is formal. In everyday English, "who" is commonly used instead.
"whom" is formal. In everyday English, "who" is commonly used instead.
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Ah...I got it.
"who to go" is wrong by itself and "who to eat" is by no means interpreted as "who is going to eat".
The verb(or verb phrase) must be an transitive to take the wh-pronoun as an object.
Thank you very much for your kind explanation, GPY
"who to go" is wrong by itself and "who to eat" is by no means interpreted as "who is going to eat".
The verb(or verb phrase) must be an transitive to take the wh-pronoun as an object.
Thank you very much for your kind explanation, GPY
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