Can somebody please tell me which one of these is correct and the difference?
- I started rest of my work after children went to bed
- I started rest of my work after children go to bed
I am so sorry. It's a typing error. The correct sentence isWhat do you mean by 'I am thing what to do'- that doesn't make sense
I think the following is correct: I am thinking what to do after I go home.I am so sorry. It's a typing error. The correct sentence is
I am thinking what to do after I went/go home ( Action is not finished and going to happen in future)
Sorry, but this is not correct. Properly, it would be:I think the following is correct: I am thinking what to do after I go home.
Tom
I absolutely agree with Okey-Dokey (with the minor amendment noted)."I started [the rest of my work] after the children had gone to bed
Ok, sorry for the confusion.Sorry, but this is not correct. Properly, it would be:
"I am thinking about what I am going to do after I get home"
1. You are thinking about something;
2. You are going to do something after you get home;
Yours is perfectly fine, Thomas. It's a variation. In fact, I would prefer yours in writing -- maybe Dimcl's in speaking. They're both good.Ok, sorry for the confusion.
I've got some questions:
what's wrong with: thinking what to do here?
And why is go wrong? I've thought it's possible in the sentence.
Tom
Yes, I actually thought of replacing go with come when I was replying to the question since logically it and get are better here, but I guess there's a context in which go would be fine too.I am thinking (about) what to do after I get home.
"Go home" implies leaving and heading in the direction of your home from some place otherwise. "Get home" is more appropriate in this context, as it implies arriving at home from some other place otherwise.
I respectfully disagree, Coiffe. To say "...thinking what to do" is the same as:Yours is perfectly fine, Thomas. It's a variation. In fact, I would prefer yours in writing -- maybe Dimcl's in speaking. They're both good.
Probably I said that about writing context because I can see the character wandering around, saying to himself: "What to do. What to do, what to do ..." Whereas it just isn't as eloquent -- or stylistic, I should say -- to write: "What am I going to do? What am I going to do?" The shorter spurts give a nervier quality to him.
Really? Yikes, you and Coiffe have thrown me for a loop! So, if I say:With all due respect, Dimcl, I'll have to disagree. To me "thinking what to do/where to go" sounds very natural to me, and "thinking of what to do" and "thinking about what to do" are the same. I feel that in this case the preposition "of/about" can be safely omitted without changing the meaning of the sentence.
Really? Yikes, you and Coiffe have thrown me for a loop! So, if I say:
"I'm thinking who should get my inheritance"
you don't find anything wrong with that?
Dimcl,I respectfully disagree, Coiffe. To say "...thinking what to do" is the same as:
"I am thinking where to go for my vacation" OR
"I am thinking what to do in my garden this year"
One thinks "about" or "of" and I'm sure that this needs to be conveyed in either conversation or writing.
Holy Smoke! Well, I guess (that) I keep thinking (about) the fact that ESL students should learn the "proper" way before becoming accustomed to our idiomatic conversational styles (heaven help them!). I don't envy ADMP if this subject comes up on a grammar test at some point!Sounds perfect to me!It actually sounds better to me without the prepositions.
mrbilal87"I'm thinking who should get my inheritance"
.Sounds perfect to me!It actually sounds better to me without the prepositions
Can we use it in this context?
I am thing what to do after I went/go home ( Action is not finished and going to happen in future)
Sentence 1 is a command structure; hence, no need of 'of' or 'about'. We dont' need the phrasal verb here with its particle, not preposition."think" has both transitive and intransitive usages.
Concerning transitive usage, here are some examples:
1) Think how much you can earn if the advertisement attracts over 100 customers.
2) I can't think what you actually mean.
3) I think you'd better run, or you'll be late.
None of the above sentences needs a preposition.
ADMPYou said in the beginning of this thread you wanted to express it in the future tense: something you will be going to do. . .
I am thinking is present tense. If you want to keep that part of the sentence like that, I'd re-write it to say:
I think when I get home, I'll put the children to bed, and then I'll finish the rest of my work.
Happening in the future as you requested.
In the sentence as ADMP has composed it here, my thought is that she/he is deciding what he/she will do after she/he gets home. If that is the case, the sentence should be written this way:I am thinking what to do after I went/go home ( Action is not finished and going to happen in future)
In sentence 2 "I can't think what you actually mean", think is equivalent to imagine/comprehend, and thus a transitive verb.Sentence 1 is a command structure; hence, no need of 'of' or 'about'. We dont' need the phrasal verb here with its particle, not preposition.
Sentence 3 is another example of a sentence with the elided that
I think (that) you'd better run, or you'll be late.
The subordinate clause has a predicate and 'run' doesn't need an object.
Sentence 2, I'm not so sure about. I'd prefer to insert an 'of'.
Thanks, Leon. There's one other thing in the deep structure, and I'm surprised nobody picked up on it. I didn't think of it either, for a day or two:In sentence 2 "I can't think what you actually mean", think is equivalent to imagine/comprehend, and thus a transitive verb.
Another look-up in dictionary.com:
American Heritage Dictionary -
think![]()
(thĭngk) Pronunciation Key
v. thought (thôt), think·ing, thinks
v. tr.
- To have or formulate in the mind.
- To reason about or reflect on; ponder: Think how complex language is. Think the matter through.
- To decide by reasoning, reflection, or pondering: thinking what to do.
- To expect; hope: They thought she'd arrive early.
- To intend: They thought they'd take their time.
- .....
The way you put it in "I am thinking. 'What to do?' " seems still trying to stress the intransitive usage of think, which requires a propsition of or about in front of "what to do" when connecting the both parts together. However, in my opinion, whether with or without a preposition is both correct but carries slightly different meaning.Thanks, Leon. There's one other thing in the deep structure, and I'm surprised nobody picked up on it. I didn't think of it either, for a day or two:
"I don't know what to do."
The phrase/sentence "What to do." or "What to do?" is just a shortened form of the complete sentence above. The "I don't know" has been suppressed. It's the same as:
"Where to go." or "Where to go?"
(from deletion transformation applied to "I don't know where to go.")
The sentence "I am thinking, 'What to do?' " is simply a substitution/replacement transformation.