Question
27 Jul 2019
- Japanese
-
English (US)
-
Simplified Chinese (China)
-
Korean
Question about English (US)
I have a question about the following sentence.
"We are worried about a wonderful mother who’s being put through an onerous, if not despicably cruel, court procedure to what? Get to be with her own kids?"
In this sentence, "to what" doesn't make sense to me, if it's "for what" or "to do what", it makes sense,,
Could you tell me if "to what" has the same meaning as "for what", please?
I have a question about the following sentence.
"We are worried about a wonderful mother who’s being put through an onerous, if not despicably cruel, court procedure to what? Get to be with her own kids?"
In this sentence, "to what" doesn't make sense to me, if it's "for what" or "to do what", it makes sense,,
Could you tell me if "to what" has the same meaning as "for what", please?
"We are worried about a wonderful mother who’s being put through an onerous, if not despicably cruel, court procedure to what? Get to be with her own kids?"
In this sentence, "to what" doesn't make sense to me, if it's "for what" or "to do what", it makes sense,,
Could you tell me if "to what" has the same meaning as "for what", please?
Answers
Read more comments
- English (US)
- English (US)
- Urdu Near fluent
@Shunto In this sentence, "to what" could have the same meaning as "for what". However, it is followed by a question relating to the statement.
"...to what? Get to be with her own kids?"
"...for what? Get to be with her own kids?"
"For what" does not match with the question that follows. It wouldn't make sense.
- Japanese
- English (US)
- Urdu Near fluent
- Japanese
@laputaharts
Oh, I see, now I understand!
So
"..to what? To get to be with her own kids?" and
"to do what? Get to be with her own kids?"
these two don’t make sense either for the same reason as "for what", am I right?
Oh, I see, now I understand!
So
"..to what? To get to be with her own kids?" and
"to do what? Get to be with her own kids?"
these two don’t make sense either for the same reason as "for what", am I right?
- English (US)
I have to disagree with the above speaker. I think for what would make more sense here. For what implies for what purpose. To what implies to do what. To me this question is asking for what purpose, not to do what. Either is ok but I think the second is more awkward.
- Japanese
@pandora25
Thank you very much!
So, "for what" is the best choice in this context!
Context wise, "for what" is the most suitable here, but in that case, the following sentence should be "Getting to be with her own kids?" or "To get to be with her own kids?", instead of "Get to be with her own kids?", right?
It might be too much to ask, but would you mind telling me if the following are right when you only consider those three patterns with what they're followed by and don't take any context into consideration, please?
1. ".. for what? Getting to be with her own kids?" ○
2. ".. for what? For getting to be with her own kids?" ○
3. ".. for what? To get to be with her own kids?" ○
4. ".. for what? Get to be with her own kids?" ×
5. ".. for what? Because she wants to get with her own kids?" ○
6. ".. to do what? To get to be with her own kids?" ○
7. ".. to do what? Get to be with her own kids?" ×
8. ".. to what? Get to be with her own kids?" ○
9. ".. to what? To get to be with her own kids?" ×
Thank you very much!
So, "for what" is the best choice in this context!
Context wise, "for what" is the most suitable here, but in that case, the following sentence should be "Getting to be with her own kids?" or "To get to be with her own kids?", instead of "Get to be with her own kids?", right?
It might be too much to ask, but would you mind telling me if the following are right when you only consider those three patterns with what they're followed by and don't take any context into consideration, please?
1. ".. for what? Getting to be with her own kids?" ○
2. ".. for what? For getting to be with her own kids?" ○
3. ".. for what? To get to be with her own kids?" ○
4. ".. for what? Get to be with her own kids?" ×
5. ".. for what? Because she wants to get with her own kids?" ○
6. ".. to do what? To get to be with her own kids?" ○
7. ".. to do what? Get to be with her own kids?" ×
8. ".. to what? Get to be with her own kids?" ○
9. ".. to what? To get to be with her own kids?" ×

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