Verb + wh-clause

A Some verbs can be followed by a clause beginning with a wh-word (how, what, when, where,
which, who, or why):
• That might explain why he's looking unhappy.
• Let's consider how we can solve the problem.
• I couldn't decide which train I ought to catch.
•j^^ Other verbs like this include arrange, calculate, check, choose, debate, determine, discover,
discuss, establish, find out, forget, guess, imagine, know, learn, notice, plan, realise, remember,
say, see, talk about, think (about), understand, wonder.
These verbs can also be followed by a wh-word (except 'why') + to-infinitive:
• I don't understand what to do.
• She calculated how much to pay on the back of an envelope.
But notice that if we change the subject in the wh-clause we can't use a to-infinitive:
• I can't imagine what you like about jazz, (but not I can't imagine what to...)

D Some verbs must have an object before the [Link]:

n • She reminded me where I had to leave the papers.
• • We told Derek and Linda how to get to our new house.
•j/0q Other verbs like this include advise, inform, instruct, teach, warn. The verbs ask and show often
have an object before a w^-clause, but not always:
• I asked (him) how I could get to the station, and he told me.
These verbs can also be followed by an object + wh-word + to-infinitive:
• She taught me how to play chess.
• I showed him what to look for when he was buying a second-hand car.

P ©We can often use the way instead of how:

• • Have you noticed the way he spins the ball, [or ...how he spins the ball.)

n whether
We can use whether as the wh-word in a ^ - c l a u s e when we want to indicate that something is
possible, but that other things are also possible. Whether has a similar meaning to 'if:
• He couldn't remember whether he had turned the computer off.
• Can you find out whether she's coming to the party or not.
^Whether can be followed by a to-infinitive, but 'if is never used before a to-infinitive:
• • They have 14 days to decide whether to keep it or send it back.
• uf^ Verbs that are often followed by whether + to-infinitive include choose, consider, debate, decide,
determine, discuss, know, wonder.

C Notice the difference between the pairs of sentences below. The first has a wh-dause with
whether and the second has a that-dause (see also Unit 44):
• I didn't know whether the university was shut. (= if the university was shut or not)
• I didn't know that the university was shut, (suggests that the university was shut)
• We couldn't see whether he was injured. (= if he was injured or not)
• We couldn't see that he was injured, (suggests that he was injured)

Reporting questions = 11 and whether =

 UNIT
EXERCISES
4 0
4.1 Select an appropriate sentence ending and choose a wh-word to connect them, as in 1. Use each
ending once only. If necessary, also add an appropriate object. (A & B)
1 I'll never forget... a ...bananas can be made to grow straight,
2 Scientists have discovered... b ...we should do in an emergency.
3 The crew advised... c ...he wanted me to bring a ladder to the party,
4 Nobody asked... d ...you want to go.
5 I must check... e ...had won the race,
6 Before you go to the travel agent, decide... f ...the library books are due back.
7 I couldn't begin to imagine... g ...we used to stay here on holiday.
8 The course taught... h ...I could improve my teaching methods.
9 From that distance I couldn't see... i ...I wanted to buy a gun.
Example: 1+ g I'LL never -forget when we used to stay Here on Holiday.

4,2 Underline the correct or more appropriate verb. (D)

1 We had to plan I decide whether to continue the journey.
2 She's been wondering I thinking whether to look for a new job.
3 The committee was debating I imagining whether to postpone its next meeting, and what the
consequences might be.
4 Bob looked so ridiculous that for a moment we didn't realise I know whether to take him
seriously.
5 The company had to learn I choose whether to replace the machines now or wait until next
year.

40.3 When Peter Miles got back from mountain climbing in the Andes he wrote a book about his
experiences. Here are some extracts. Correct any mistakes you can find. (A-E)

The villagers warned what the conditions were like at higher

altitud - a n d advised to take enough food for a week. In the
mo nmg they showed me the way how to get to the track up
Z mountain y ..When the snow started failing . w a s very light,
and I couldn't decide if to carry on or go backdown. Soon
however, I couldn't see where to go...I wondered if to retrace
my steps and try to find the track again...As the snow got
heavier I began to realise whether my
life was in danger. Fortunately,
my years in the Andes had
taught what to do in extreme •
c o n d i t i o n s . I knew t h a t
there was a shepherd's hut •
somewhere on this side of
the mountain that I could
shelter in, but I didn't know
that it was nearby or miles
away...

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 Key to exercises

7 in a vaccine to prevent the 8 He warned me not to go out 39.2

disease. without an umbrella. He noticed two men looking into
8 to public recognition all the parked cars.
9 to being called English He recalled hearing a car being
10 for my mother UNIT 38 driven away.
He didn't consider telling the
36.3 38.1 police.
1 You wash (the dishes) and I'll 1 b racing/tearing, c to He denied stealing the car.
dry (them / the dishes). admire, d tearing/racing He regretted going into town that
Washing up in a kitchen. 2 a talking, b smoking/ night.
2 Are you ready to order (your spending, c to introduce,
meal)? In a restaurant. d to say The following sentences can be
3 Do you drink (alcohol)? 3 a to tell / to notify, b to tell / rewritten with having + past
4 Who scored (the goals)? to notify, c turning down, participle
Question about a football d spending He admitted having been in town
match. 4 a living, b to buy, c to around midnight.
5 It's your turn to deal (the check, d putting He recalled having heard a car
cards). Flaying cards. being driven away.
6 I'll weed (the garden) and you 38.2 He denied having stolen the car.
can water (it / the garden). Example answers: He regretted having gone to town
Gardening. 2 to push / pushing it towards that night.
the garage.
3 to give it to you yesterday but 39.3
I couldn't get to a bank. 2X
UNIT 37 3 The plan envisages Tony's
4 you to cut out fats from your
diet. becoming
37.1
5 aching when I lay on the 4X
2 a allowed; b agreed
floor. 5X
3 a arranged; b wanted
6 We objected to the company's
4 a warned; b threatened 6 thinking about waves
building
5 a appealed; b forced breaking on the shore, ('to
7 It amuses me to think of his
6 a told; b promised think' is also possible, but less
sitting
7 a arrange; b need likely; it suggests that I find it
difficult to think about waves 8X
8 a persuaded; b decided
breaking on the shore.) 39.4
37.2
7 to play when all the lights The more likely answers are...
1 longed for the holidays
went out. 1 crying ('most of the night'
2 overheard him say
8 to call me if you need any suggests an action that went on
3 watched them-to-play football over a period of time)
more information.
4 consented -her-to lend 2 bite ('biting* is also possible,
9 shouting / to shout for help.
5 encouraged me to work hard but this would perhaps suggest
10 to lift my suitcase, ('lifting' is
6 campaigning for an inquiry to that the snake bit me several
also possible, but less likely; it
be held to-heW-into times)
suggests that I picked up the
7 let them -to- stay suitcase in order to find out if 3 playing (the situation suggests
8 promised tne-to show me I was able to lift it.) that the children were playing
9 to make them to do with before you came out of the
11 waiting for a couple of hours.
10 hear-her tell that station and after you left; that
11 entitles you to take is, you don't watch them
12 let me to- borrow playing from start to finish)
UNIT 39
37.3 4 slip (here we are probably
Most likely answers: 39.1 talking about a single, short
2 He encouraged me to continue Example objects are given. action)
the course. 3 denied
3 He promised to phone me 4 put off
soon. 5 found Jane UNIT 40
4 He agreed to come with me. 6 heard someone
7 imagined (Jo) 40.1
5 He ordered me to stop the car. Most likely answers; example
6 He invited me to go out for 8 watched the stars
9 missed (him) objects are given.
dinner. 2 + a Scientists have discovered
7 He volunteered to work late at how bananas can be made to
the weekend. grow straight.

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Key to exercises

3 + b The crew advised us what 4 we had/got it rebuilt 9 could you take (her) some
we should do in an emergency. 5 she had/got it dry-cleaned flowers for me?
4 + i Nobody asked (me) why I 6 I had/got it photocopied 10 1 had to write all her
wanted to buy a gun. 7 he had/got it mended Christmas cards for her.
5 + f I must check when the 8 we had/got it redecorated 11 to tell his problems to his
library books are due back. 9 she had/got it framed parents.
6 + d Before you go to the travel 12 The university awarded a
41.2
agent, decide when/where you £10,000 grant to Dr
want to go. 1 have
Henderson
2 get
7 + c I couldn't begin to imagine
3 get/have 42.2
why she wanted me to bring a
ladder to the party. 4 had 2 I had to deny him his request.
5 have 3 •
8 + h The course taught me how
I could improve my teaching 6 got/had 4 She announced her decision to
methods. 7 got the delegates.
8 have 5/
9 + e From that distance I
couldn't see who had won the 41.3 6 Her new coat cost her a
fortune.
2 her paintings displayed
7 I reported the theft to my
40.2 3 my bike repaired
boss.
4 the play performed
1 decide 8 The surgeon demonstrated the
5 your bedroom tidied
2 wondering (we could, however, new technique to his students.
6 herself lifted up
use 'thinking about whether 9 /
to...') 41.4 10 /
3 debating get/have a prescription filled =
42.3
4 know take a prescription (a piece of
5 choose Example answers:
paper on which a doctor writes
2 Can you introduce me to your
40.3 the details of a medicine needed)
sister?
to a chemist and exchange it for
The villagers warned me what the 3 Can you explain the rules to
medicine
conditions were like at higher me?
altitudes, and advised me to take get/have something fixed =
4 Can you collect a parcel for
enough food for a week. In the repaired
me?
morning they showed me (the get/have a job costed = have
way / how: one of these must be someone calculate how much a
deleted) to get to the track up the job will cost
get/have something overhauled = UNIT 43
mountain... When the snow
started falling it was very light, examine something in detail (e.g. 43.1
and I couldn't decide whether to machinery, plans) and repair or The most likely reporting verbs
carry on or go back down. Soon, improve them if necessary are given in these answers, but
however, I couldn't see where to get/have your house done up = others are possible.
go...I wondered whether to repaired or made to look more 2 'Don't come near me,' she
retrace my steps and try to find attractive commanded.
the track again...As the snow got get/have your hair permed = have 3 'Why did they do that?' he
heavier I began to realise that your hair made curly using wondered, (or Why did they do
('realise my life' is also possible) chemicals that? he wondered.)
my life was in danger. 4 'We're getting married,' Emma
Fortunately, my years in the announced / announced Emma.
Andes had taught me what to do UNIT 42 5 'I think Robin was right after
in extreme conditions. I knew all,' he decided, [or I think
42.1
that there was a shepherd's hut Robin was right after all, he
2 Can you leave some food for
somewhere on this side of the decided.)
him?
mountain that I could shelter in, 6 'Those flowers look nice,' Liz
3 The company owes money to
but I didn't know whether it was remarked / remarked Liz.
nearby or miles away... six
4 My grandfather left all his 7 'This coffee's cold,' she
books to me complained.
5 Jane took some flowers to her 8 'Please let me go to the party,'
UNIT 41 mother pleaded Dan / Dan pleaded.
6 she poured some coffee for us (In 3 and 5, the alternatives in
41.1 brackets are for a report of what
7 can you fetch/pour a glass of
2 he had/got it delivered water for me? 'he' thought. (See Appendix 2C.))
3 we had/got it put down 8 had only lent it to him until
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