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Hanuman_2000 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

When to

Hello,

I am not familiar with the sentence construction like i.e

I don't know when to stop.

Could l any one here explain it?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

hanuman_2000 I don't know when to stop. It is just a clause complement to the verb: I understand what is wrong. They told us where to go.

— Mister Micawber

  • hanuman_2000 I don't know when to stop.
  • It is just a clause complement to the verb: I understand what is wrong.
  • They told us where to go.
  • We considered who he was.
  • We asked how much it was.
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7 Answers
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hanuman_2000I don't know when to stop.
It is just a clause complement to the verb:

I understand what is wrong.
They told us where to go.
We considered who he was.
We asked how much it was.
etc.
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In other words, it is a reduced clause: an infinitive clause used as a noun (complement).

Here are some examples with a full clause:
I don't know Mary's home address. (Object of "know")

We can say it another way:
Where does Mary live? I don't know.
I don't know where Mary lives.

Your sentence can be paraphrased:
When should I stop? I don't
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Hello,

1. I don't know how to solve the problem.

How Shall I analyse this sentence?

Thanks.
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hanuman_2000How Shall I analyse this sentence?
Just as the others have been analysed for you above.
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Sir!

1. I don't know how I shall solve the problem.

Is the above sentence = I don't know how to solve the problem?

Thanks.
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I don't know how I shall solve the problem.
I don't know how to solve the problem.

The meanings are the same, yes. They are two different structures to say essentially the same thing.
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hanuman_2000 I don't know how to solve the problem
Think about it this way. A and B are talking. A has a problem. He asks B for advice:

A: How do you solve the problem?
B: I don't know. I have never seen such a problem!
A: What do you mean? Say it another way.
B: I don't know how to solve the problem.
A: Can you say it another way?
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