Hi everyone. I'm Jennifer from English with Jennifer. I'm sometimes amused by the idea
that people don't know what to do with their time. For me, the daily question is how to get
everything done. How can I fit everything into a single day? What questions do you face every day?
Another question I face weekly concerns content. I have to decide what to teach. For this lesson,
the task was easy. A viewer submitted a very good question.
When can we use an infinitive after a question word? Good question,
right? Why not use the full form? Well, in this lesson, I'll not only give the answer but also
some practice. And if you don't know already, I'll explain what a bare infinitive is. Let's start.
This structure should be familiar: How can I fit everything into a single day? This is the word
order for a wh- or information question. We use the question word + helping verb + subject + the
main verb. Sometimes I don't know how to fit everything into a single day.
What did I just do? I omitted the helping verb and the subject. I don't know how to fit...
Question word + infinitive. The meaning is understood.
How can I fit everything into a single day? How should I fit everything into a single day?
We can use this pattern with the question words: how, when, and where.
And the question words "what" and "who" as an object.
Notice how we can use this structure as the object of a verb.
I don't know how to fit everything into a single day.
People don't know what to do with their time.
Again, this structure expresses "can" or
"should." People don't know what they should do with their time.
Using a question word + an infinitive is an alternative to a full embedded question.
If you need to review, you can watch my lesson on embedded questions. I'll put the link in
the video description. Just remember that a wh- question is a real question
and uses the word order [verb + subject]. How can I fit everything into a single day?
An embedded question is not asking a real question. We use [subject + verb] word order.
I don't know how I can fit everything into a single day.
When we use the short form with an infinitive, we lose that subject in the embedded question.
It's understood. I don't know how to fit everything into a single day.
I also used this structure as a subject complement when I said, "The daily question
is how to get everything done." The structure follows the linking verb "is." Let's say I was
writing a blog post with tips for time management. I might title my post "How to Get Everything Done
in a Single Day." This structure can be used in titles because it's nice and concise.
Try using this structure. Rewrite the following
sentences with the question word followed by the infinitive.
Answers. One. I want someone to explain where to go.
Two. We didn't understand how to start the project.
Three. Do you know who to talk to about this?
Four. I asked what to do for neck pain.
We can also use an infinitive after "whether."
"Whether" is like "if" when we express a yes-no idea. There's a choice.
For example, I could teach on Instagram or not. I decided to teach on Instagram in addition
to YouTube. For a while, though, I couldn't decide if I should teach on Instagram or not.
I couldn't decide whether I should teach on Instagram or not. Now watch. I couldn't decide
whether to teach on Instagram or not. I couldn't decide whether or not to teach on Instagram.
Again, we can use this structure to express the meaning of CAN, COULD, or SHOULD.
The structure typically follows these verbs: know, explain, understand, decide, ask, among others.
Here's some more practice. Rewrite the sentences with an infinitive after the question word.
Answers. Five. We couldn't decide whether to work together or independently.
Six. He didn't know whether to tell the truth or not.
Or: He didn't know whether or not to tell the truth.
Seven. She doesn't know whether to trust her new friend or not.
Or: She doesn't know whether or not to trust her new friend.
Let's summarize the uses so far.
We've seen the structure as the object of the verb: I don't know where to start.
As the subject complement: The question is where to start.
It might also be an object complement. I have no idea where to start.
Or even an adjective complement: I wasn't sure where to start.
And sometimes the structure is used in titles because it's nice and concise.
Your Dream Career: Where to Start.
What about the question word "why"? At the beginning of the lesson, I asked two questions:
When can we use an infinitive after a question word? Why not use the full form?
Hopefully, I answered that question. The structure
with the infinitive is a concise alternative to the full clause,
but in the second question, I didn't use an infinitive. Or did I? Why not use the full form?
"Why" can be followed by the bare infinitive. Some call it the zero infinitive or base
verb. It's the infinitive without "to." Here's the affirmative: Why use the structure?
Here's the negative: Why not be more concise?
Notice how we use this to shorten the question, to be more concise.
Try using the bare infinitive to shorten the following questions.
Answers. Eight, Why make the effort to learn grammar?
Nine. Why ask for the impossible?
Ten. Why not dare to dream beyond what's possible today?
That's all for now. I hope you feel more confident about this structure.
You know what it is and how to use it. Please like and share this video if you found the
lesson useful and consider purchasing a Super Thanks to support my channel.
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