as to how to do this task/ as to how one should do this task

[Vladv1]

I am perplexed as to how to do this task/ as to how one should do this task?
I am confused as to why wait three hours more/as to why one should wait three hours?
My question is can we place a verb straight after how/why in such patterns, or should we place a subject even if the subject is clear from the context?

 

[emsr2d2]

1. I am perplexed as to how to do this task/as to how one should do this task.
2. I am confused as to why wait three hours more/as to why one should wait three hours.

My question is Can we place a verb straight after "how/why" in such patterns, or should we place a subject even if the subject is clear from the context?

Note my corrections above.

Sentence 1 is OK either way.
Sentence 2 does not work with "as to why wait". That's ungrammatical.

 

[jutfrank]

You can use a 'to'-infinitive verb, yes, and you can't omit the 'to' before the infinitive.

The only question word after which you can ever omit 'to' is 'why', but that's a completely different point and irrelevant to your question about the use of 'as to'.

 

[Vladv1]

You can use a 'to'-infinitive verb, yes, and you can't omit the 'to' before the infinitive.

The only question word after which you can ever omit 'to' is 'why', but that's a completely different point and irrelevant to your question about the use of 'as to'.

So I can't say "I am perplexed as to why wait?"

 

[Vladv1]

You can use a 'to'-infinitive verb, yes, and you can't omit the 'to' before the infinitive.

The only question word after which you can ever omit 'to' is 'why', but that's a completely different point and irrelevant to your question about the use of 'as to'.

"I am perplexed as to whether to buy this". Is it the correct use of an infinitive?

 

[emsr2d2]

So I can't say "I am perplexed as to why wait?"

You can't.

 

[emsr2d2]

"I am perplexed as to whether to buy this". Is it the correct use of an infinitive?

Yes.

 

[5jj]

"I am perplexed as to whether to buy this".

We are normally perplexed by a difficult or complex problem. I don't think the decision as to whether or not to buy something would perplex anyone.