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Azargramma Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Tall&high, would&do, get&get to, how long did it take...

Hello, please correct me for the following sentences, thank you.

1.
How are you going to get to Denver?

Can I use How are you going to get Denver? (Could it neglect the "to" after "get"?)

2.
How high is Mt. Everest?

Can I use How tall is Mt. Everest?

3.
What do you do when you go to a baseball game?

Can I use What would you do when you go to a baseball game? (Is "would" more polite than "do"?)

4. How long did it take Mike to finish his composition?

Can I use How long did Mike take to finish his composition?
  

Top answer

1. The use of the second "to" is essential because it is a place that they are going to. " sounds like an American cop film with the villain called Denver.

— Citibox

  • 1.
  • The use of the second "to" is essential because it is a place that they are going to.
  • " sounds like an American cop film with the villain called Denver.
  • 2.
  • Although tall would be understood it is incorrect.
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8 Answers
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1. The use of the second "to" is essential because it is a place that they are going to. "How are you going to get Denver?" sounds like an American cop film with the villain called Denver.
2. Although tall would be understood it is incorrect.
3. "do you do" is a direct question, "would you do" is conditional. I can best explain this as follows: "What do you do for a living?" "What
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Thanks for you reply, Citibox.

Is there any difference between "would" and "would like"?

For example,

What would you do?
What would you like to do?

What would you do when you finish your MBA?
What would you like to do when you finish your MBA?
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azargrammaIs there any difference between "would" and "would like"?
Yes, there is a great deal of difference. "would" is a modal verb that combines with any other verb to form, among other things, the future of the past. "would like" is a special idiom used as a politer version of "want".
azargramma-
What would you like to do? ...
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Excellent! For once CJ and I are singing from the same sheet. (This means we are in agreement.)

What will you do when you when you finish your MBA?
What would you like to do when you finish your MBA?
What would you do if you could afford to complete an MBA? (Meaning would you take the course or, for instance, buy a house.)
What job would you apply for if you had an MBA?
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Thank you, CalifJim and Citibox.

However, I am a little bit confused.
Citibox "What job would you like when you finish your MBA?" It is not a matter of politeness, it is a matter of the answer being conditional on another circumstance.
From the example Citibox gave above, how is What job would you like? not a matter of politeness even though ther
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azargrammahow is What job would you like? not a matter of politeness
Citybox will have to answer that one. My answer remains the same:

What job would you like when ...? is more polite than the corresponding What job do you want when ...?

CJ
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Hi azargramma, I concur with CJ that "want" is understandable but "would like" is just more elegant. "Tea?" or "Would you like a cup of tea?" - in the UK (and on the East Coast of the USA, even among the people I know in California) this would be considered a class issue. Better educated and better read people would opt for the second so in this sense it is more "polite", the difference between
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This bit got cut out:

What would you do when you go to a baseball game?
The problem here is would and when.
"When you go to a baseball game you would do better sitting in the shade." The would is conditional on the when, if you never go to a baseball game then the rest of the phrase is irrelevant.
"What would you do if you went to a baseball game?" Again, would is co
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