[Grammar] We couldn’t decide whether to go to the party or not.

[ambitious-girl]

Hi everyone,

Are these pair sentences the same? (The second sentences on each pair added by myself)

We couldn’t decide whether to go to the party or not.
We couldn’t decide whether we go to the party or not.

I couldn't decide what to buy Laura for her birthday.
I couldn't decide what I buy Laura for her birthday.

She didn't know what to do.
She didn't know what she do.

Alan couldn't decide where to go for his birthday.

Alan couldn't decide where he go for his birthday.



I have notice if the subjects are the same in the structures like above, we can use to-infinitive for the second part and drop the second subjects. Am I right?

 

[teechar]

Hi everyone,

Are these [STRIKE]pair[/STRIKE] sentence pairs the same? (The second sentences [STRIKE]on[/STRIKE] in each pair was added by me). [STRIKE]myself)[/STRIKE]

We couldn’t decide whether we go to the party or not.

That's ungrammatical.

I couldn't decide what to buy Laura for her birthday.
I couldn't decide what I wanted to buy Laura for her birthday.

Those mean the same.

I didn't know what to do.
I didn't know what I should/have to do.

Those don't have the same meaning.

I have noticed if the subjects are the same, we can use a to-infinitive for the second part. Am I right?

I don't know what you mean by that.

 

[GoesStation]

As edited, they are all incorrect.

 

[teechar]

ambitious-girl, please do not edit your initial posts after they've been replied to, unless requested to do so. Otherwise, the thread can become confusing.

 

[ambitious-girl]

ambitious-girl, please do not edit your initial posts after they've been replied to, unless requested to do so. Otherwise, the thread can become confusing.

Hello, teechar.
I am so sorry about that. I though while I was making some changes, you posted your replies, so this inconvenience occurred simultaneously.

 

[ambitious-girl]

I don't know what you mean by that.

I meant, I had notice that whenever the subjects are the same (two actions done by the same people) in a sentence we could use infinitive. For example, in the following :

She didn't know what to do. (the same subjects refer to "she" )
She didn't know what he wanted to do. (two different subjects , "She" and "he")


Alan didn't know where to go for his birthday.(the same subjects refer to "Alan")
Alan didn't know where her friend planned to go for birthday.(two different subjects , "Alan" and "her friend ")

I couldn't decide what to buy Laura for her birthday.
We couldn’t decide whether to go to the party or not.
She didn't know what to do.

I don't know the reason why and also when we use infinitive form in the examples above.