VERB + WH CLAUSE

Reported speech Advanced 3: VERB + WH-CLAUSE

In reported speech, some verbs can be followed by a clause beginning with a WH-word (HOW, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHICH, WHO, WHY).

Reporting: verb + WH-clause

Verbs like this include: ARRANGE, CALCULATE, CHECK, CHOOSE, DEBATE, DETERMINE, DISCOVER, DISCUSS, ESTABLISH, FIND OUT, FORGET, GUESS, IMAGINE, KNOW, LEARN, NOTICE, PLAN, REALIZE, REMEMBER, SAY, SEE, TALK ABOUT, THINK, UNDERSTAND, WONDER.

THAT CLAUSE: I decided THAT I ought to leave WH-CLAUSE: Did you find WHERE to go?

Some verbs MUST have an object before the WH-clause: She reminded ME WHAT (I had) to do. I told LINDA HOW to get to my house Other verbs like this include: ADVISE, INFORM, INSTRUCT, TEACH, WARN. The verbs ASK and SHOW often have an object before a WH-clause (not always) I asked (HIM) HOW I could get to the station. These verbs can be followed by an OBJECT + WH-WORD + TO INFINITIVE She taught ME HOW TO PLAY tennis

We often use THE WAY instead of HOW referring to either the route or the means: Go back THE WAY (THAT/BY WHICH) you came Have you noticed THE WAY (THAT / IN WHICH) he spins the ball? IMPORTANT! We don’t say THE WAY HOW.

We use WHETHER as the WH-WORD in a WH-clause when we express possible choices. In this case, WHETHER has a similar meaning to IF: He couldn’t remember IF/WHETHER he had turned the computer off. WHETHER is commonly followed by a TO-INFINITIVE to talk about the choice between two or more possibilities (IF is never used before a TO INFINITIVE) He said you had 14 days to DECIDE WHETHER TO KEEP it or not Verbs followed by WHETHER + TO INFINITIVE are concerned with talking or thinking: CHOOSE, CONSIDER, DEBATE, DECIDE, DETERMINE, DISCUSS, KNOW (questions and negatives), WONDER. DO NOT USE these with whether + to infinitive: ASK, CONCLUDE, EXPLAIN, IMAGINE, REALIZE, SPECULATE, THINK.

WHETHER

Compare: The first in each pair has a WH-clause with WHETHER and the second with a THAT-CLAUSE

Compare

He said he didn’t know whether the shop was shut He said he didn’t know that the shop was shut

FORMAL CONTEXTS

In formal contexts, we can use AS TO with a meaning similar to ABOUT or CONCERNING before a WH-clause. It is more common before WHETHER.

Watch the following video and write 5 sentences using reporting speech WH- clauses. Share your sentences with the rest of the class.

Up to you!