Question Words Followed by Infinitives: When to Use Them? | English with Jennifer

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.  

As always, thanks for watching and happy  studies! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter,  

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