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Koji from Japan Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

What I wouldn’t give for ...

I found a new expression today, which is “(1) What I wouldn’t give for ...” or “(2) What wouldn’t I give for ...”. I searched the Internet and learned, though I’m not very sure, that (1) is much more often used than (2). If so, why is that, when this is an interrogative sentence (maybe a rhetorical question)?

Koji from Japan
  

Top answer

Koji from Japan (1) is much more often used than (2) That's right. Koji from Japan this is an interrogative sentence Actually, it's not interrogative. It's exclamatory and should be punctuated as such.

— CalifJim

  • Koji from Japan (1) is much more often used than (2) That's right.
  • Koji from Japan this is an interrogative sentence Actually, it's not interrogative.
  • It's exclamatory and should be punctuated as such.
  • What I wouldn't give for ...
  • CJ
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4 Answers
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Koji from Japan(1) is much more often used than (2)
That's right.
Koji from Japanthis is an interrogative sentence
Actually, it's not interrogative. It's exclamatory and should be punctuated as such.

What I wouldn't give for ...!

CJ
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Thank you very much, CalifJim.
May I ask an additional question?

Of course, I have often seen what-exclamatory, but they have always had a noun after 'What" like (a) and (b).
Is a sentence like (C) OK?

(a) What an boring book I've bought!
(b) What a book I've bought!
(c) What I've bought!
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Koji from JapanIs a sentence like (C) OK?
No. The only formula I know of that fits your criteria is "What I wouldn't ... for ...!"

What I wouldn't [do / give / say] for ...!

Maybe other members of the forum can think of other patterns that are not just "What a {noun} ...!"

CJ
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Thank you for very helpful information, CalifJim.
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