[Grammar] Catherine gave me XXX

[chingchangchong]

Hello

I am studying grammar in use.

In grammar in use 101 page

45 Question: It was my birthday last week and I had some presents. XXX gave me a book and Catherine gave me XXX
Answer: what did catherine give you

But,

"what did you take to catherine" <- Is it alright, too?

I don't know

 

[MikeNewYork]

In this context, it is not correct. Catherine gave you something. The sentences say nothing about anything taken to Catherine.

 

[Raymott]

First, that is not a question and answer. What you have labelled "Answer" is actually the question that could have produced part of the answer which you have labelled "Question".

Question: "What did Catherine give you?"
Answer: "Catherine gave me XXX."
The question "What did you take to Catherine?" doesn't make sense. Why should you take anything to Catherine?

Also, if you use XXX to mean something, it has to keep on meaning that. You should use something else, eg. YYY if you need another place-marker. For example, if your first XXX means Mary, the second one does too.

PS: It's too late to add a question. You should make a new thread for a separate question.

 

[emsr2d2]

I think "Question and Answer" have been used in a confusing way. I imagine the exercise goes something like this:

Q. If the answer is "... XXX gave me a book and Catherine gave me a bottle of champagne", what is the question?
A. The question is "What did XXX and Catherine give you for your birthday?"

 

[Raymott]

Yes, I considered that possibility. There's always a choice to be made when a question is unclear. Yesterday, I found myself opting for the particular strategy that I did, and I hope that chingchangchong has learnt something, and will write again for clarification is s/he doesn't understand. Your post will no doubt help.

 

[emsr2d2]

I hope so too. I was thrown by the original format.