[Grammar] Why do that? and Why like that?

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mamen

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Teachers,
I know that the following sentences are grammatically correct:
(1) Why do you do that? and
(2) Why is it like that?

But how about the following sentences?
(1) Why do that? and
(2)Why like that?

Are they grammatically correct?
I guess they are not... They don't sound grammatical to me.
What could be the possible reason/s?
 

Roman55

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I am not a teacher.

It would have been simpler to number your sentences 1,2,3 and 4 rather than 1,2,1 and 2.

Nevertheless, the last two are possible, although they don't mean the same as the first two.

They could have the following meanings:

Why do that? = Why would/should I/you/anyone do that?
Why like that? = Why + verb of your choice + in that way?
 

mamen

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Would this mean that the following sentences are complete sentences?
(1) Why do that? and
(2)Why like that?

Are they elliptical sentences?
 
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TheParser

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(2)Why like that?



***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Mona: How do you pronounce the word "dour"?

Raul then pronounces "dour" one way.

Mona: Why [did you pronounce it] like that? Why [did you] not [pronounce it] like this? (Mona then pronounces it in another way.)


NOTE: In the United States, there are two acceptable ways to pronounce "dour." (It means something like "serious/unfriendly/silent." -- Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary (online).
 
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mamen

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Can we use (1) "Why do that?" and
(2) "Why like that?" in both formal and informal writing?
 

MikeNewYork

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No. They are both informal.
 
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