0
Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Infinitives

Thank you for your help. I would like you to check if the following sentences are correct.

(1) You want what to buy.

(2) You want what her to buy.

(3) What do you want her to buy?
  

Top answer

Only the last one works. Do you want the first two to be statements rather than questions? Sometimes in the study of grammar we invert questions in this way, making them into statements to help us understand the structure.

— Avangi

  • Only the last one works.
  • Do you want the first two to be statements rather than questions?
  • Sometimes in the study of grammar we invert questions in this way, making them into statements to help us understand the structure.
  • But we don't intend to use them that way in communicating with people.
  • If you're thinking about the word "what" as an interrogative pronoun, it's only going to work in a question.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
Only the last one works. Do you want the first two to be statements rather than questions? Sometimes in the study of grammar we invert questions in this way, making them into statements to help us understand the structure. But we don't intend to use them that way in communicating with people.

If you're thinking about the word "what" as an interrogative pronoun, it's only going to work
0
0
Thank you for helping me! I wanted to express "indirect question" in the former two sentences--(ex."John remembers what to buy.") I've got your account, thank you!
0
0
The verb want doesn't take indirect questions.

Try these instead, with the verb know:

You know what to buy.
You know what to buy her.

CJ
0
0
Thank you, I owe you!
I see that there is a selection-relation between verbs and their complements.
0

Related Questions