基礎 · Unit 49
疑問詞 + to 不定詞
「疑問詞 + to 不定詞」是在 what·when·where·how·which·who 後面接上 to 不定詞，形成「該做什麼·該何時·該在哪裡·該怎麼做」這種名詞片語的用法，在句子裡常放在受詞或補語的位置。
概念說明
「疑問詞 + to 不定詞」是在 what·when·where·how·which·who 後面接上 to 不定詞，形成「該做什麼·該何時·該在哪裡·該怎麼做」這種名詞片語的用法，在句子裡常放在受詞或補語的位置。
A. what + to 不定詞 — 該做什麼
what to do 是「該做什麼」這個名詞片語，常放在 know·tell·ask·decide 這類動詞的受詞位置。公式是 疑問詞 + to 不定詞。
| 形式 | 意思 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| what to do | 要做什麼 | I don't know what to do. |
| what to say | 要說什麼 | Tell me what to say. |
| what to wear | 要穿什麼 | She can't decide what to wear. |
| what to eat | 要吃什麼 | Let's decide what to eat. |
- I don't know what to buy for her birthday. (我不知道她生日該買什麼。)
- Please tell me what to bring. (請告訴我該帶什麼。)
- He asked me what to do next. (他問我接下來該做什麼。)
B. when / where + to 不定詞 — 該何時、該在哪裡
when to 是「該何時做」，where to 是「該在哪裡·該去哪裡做」的意思，常用來詢問時間和地點。
| 形式 | 意思 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| when to leave | 該何時出發 | Tell me when to leave. |
| when to start | 該何時開始 | I don't know when to start. |
| where to go | 該去哪裡 | We can't decide where to go. |
| where to stay | 該住在哪裡 | I need to find where to stay. |
- Please let me know when to arrive. (請告訴我該何時到。)
- I have no idea where to park. (我完全不知道該把車停在哪裡。)
- They asked us where to meet. (他們問我們該在哪裡見面。)
- I can't decide when to call him. (我決定不了該何時打電話給他。)
C. how + to 不定詞與 why 的例外
how to 是「該怎麼做 / ~的方法」的意思，在會話中非常常用；相對地，why 後面不能接 to 不定詞，一定要用「why + 主詞 + 動詞」的子句來表達。請記住 why to (X) 這個例外。
| 形式 | 意思 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| how to swim | 游泳的方法 | She taught me how to swim. |
| how to cook | 做菜的方法 | I want to learn how to cook. |
| how to use | 使用方法 | Show me how to use this. |
| why to (X) | 不能使用 | I don't know why he left. |
- Do you know how to drive? (你會開車嗎？)
- He explained how to solve the problem. (他說明了怎麼解決那個問題。)
- Can you show me how to get there? (你可以告訴我怎麼去那裡嗎？)
- I finally learned how to make kimchi. (我終於學會怎麼做泡菜了。)
重點整理
- 1「疑問詞 + to 不定詞」是在 what / when / where / how / which / who 後面接上 to 不定詞來形成名詞片語，請把這個形式學起來。(例: what to say、how to swim)
- 2why 後面不能接 to 不定詞，一定要用「why + 主詞 + 動詞」的子句來表達，請記住這個例外。(例: I don't know why he left.)
- 3know·tell·ask·decide·show·learn·teach 這類動詞常把「疑問詞 + to 不定詞」當成受詞，請把這樣的搭配成對記起來。(例: I learned how to cook.)
- 4how to 是「~的方法」的意思，是會話中最常用的組合。(例: Do you know how to drive?)
- 5「疑問詞 + to 不定詞」可以改寫成「疑問詞 + 主詞 + should + 動詞」，知道這層關係就更容易理解了。(例: I don't know what to say. = I don't know what I should say.)
例句
I don't know what to say.
我不知道該說什麼。
Please tell me what to bring.
請告訴我該帶什麼來。
She couldn't decide what to wear.
她決定不了該穿什麼。
Let's decide what to eat for dinner.
我們來決定晚餐要吃什麼吧。
Please tell me when to leave.
請告訴我該何時出發。
這個單元還有更多例句。註冊後可以看完整內容並聆聽發音。
容易犯的錯誤
I don't know what to say.
She taught me how to swim.
I don't know why I should leave.
Tell me when to leave.
Do you know how to use this?
He asked me what to do.