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Picnic Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

"Why pay for"

In my opinion it is not correct, but still I find it on the web...

mention this sentence varies: "why do" and all the whys...

Explain?
  

Top answer

Why pay for is incorrect. However, if you add the right word[ s], it is correct: Why pay for it? Pay is a plain/bare infinitive, in other words an infinitive without to.

— Cool Breeze

  • Why pay for is incorrect.
  • However, if you add the right word[ s], it is correct: Why pay for it?
  • Pay is a plain/bare infinitive, in other words an infinitive without to.
  • Using this infinitive in rhetorical questions beginning with why is normal.
  • Examples: Why go there tomorrow?
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5 Answers
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Why pay for is incorrect. However, if you add the right word[ s], it is correct: Why pay for it? Pay is a plain/bare infinitive, in other words an infinitive without to. Using this infinitive in rhetorical questions beginning with why is normal. Examples:

Why go there tomorrow?

Why tell him anything about it?

Whoever ask
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In my opinion it's a shortened form.

Why pay for ...? ~ Why should you pay for ...?

Why say anything? ~ Why [should/must] [we/you] say anything?

~ Why is it necessary to say anything?

Why go so far? ~ Why should [we/you] go so far?

~ Why is it necessary to go so far?

These p
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I don't understand...

CB said "Pay is a plain/bare infinitive, in other words an infinitive without to. Using this infinitive in rhetorical questions beginning with why is normal. "

CJ said "it's a shortened form"

So is it correct? or should I use the normal form?

Question is whether it is acceptable in formal discourse or not?
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PicnicQuestion is whether it is acceptable in formal discourse or not?
Yes, it's fine. CJ only gave longer versions to ask the same thing. They are of course fine too.

CB
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