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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Who and what questions with the verb "want"

I am confused about some questions related to some verbs which can be both transitive and intransitive when I use them with the verb "want". For example,

I don't want to hurt you,
I don't want you to hurt,

I think we can ask "who don't you want to hurt?" for both sentences, is that right? How can I distinguish them? Sould they be distinguished by context?

Or, for example,

I want to move it,
I want it to move,

in the same way, I think we can ask "what do you want to move?" for both sentences, is that right and should I distinguish them by context?
  

Top answer

Anonymous I don't want you to hurt, That is an odd construction. Only specific context would make it acceptable. " for both sentences, is that right?

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous I don't want you to hurt, That is an odd construction.
  • Only specific context would make it acceptable.
  • " for both sentences, is that right?
  • That does not seem to be a reasonable question for either in a real situation.
  • Anonymous Sould they be distinguished by context?
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2 Answers
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AnonymousI don't want you to hurt,
That is an odd construction. Only specific context would make it acceptable.
AnonymousI think we can ask "who don't you want to hurt?" for both sentences, is that right?
That does not seem to be a reasonable question for either in a real situation.
AnonymousSould th
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