What's the difference between wanted and wanted to?
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Is there any difference between "wanted" vs "wanted to" for such situation?
- A: I'm not going to eat a lot this weekend!
- B: Couldn't do it even if you wanted to, I bet!
- A: I'm not going to eat a lot this weekend!
- B: Couldn't do it even if you wanted, I bet!
I feel the first one sounds more natural, talking as an English learner, but I don't know why.
prepositions
asked Nov 23 at 19:39
Ian Rodrigues
1133
migrated from english.stackexchange.com yesterday
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Is there any difference between "wanted" vs "wanted to" for such situation?
- A: I'm not going to eat a lot this weekend!
- B: Couldn't do it even if you wanted to, I bet!
- A: I'm not going to eat a lot this weekend!
- B: Couldn't do it even if you wanted, I bet!
I feel the first one sounds more natural, talking as an English learner, but I don't know why.
prepositions
asked Nov 23 at 19:39
Ian Rodrigues
1133
migrated from english.stackexchange.com yesterday
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
1
As you are an English learner, you should be posting to SE English Language Learners.
– David
Nov 23 at 23:03
Further to @David's comment, the link is English Language Learners. An excellent site for fluent speakers as well! :-)
– Chappo
Nov 24 at 2:10
Great! Didn't know about it.
– Ian Rodrigues
Nov 24 at 10:32
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Is there any difference between "wanted" vs "wanted to" for such situation?
- A: I'm not going to eat a lot this weekend!
- B: Couldn't do it even if you wanted to, I bet!
- A: I'm not going to eat a lot this weekend!
- B: Couldn't do it even if you wanted, I bet!
I feel the first one sounds more natural, talking as an English learner, but I don't know why.
prepositions
asked Nov 23 at 19:39
Ian Rodrigues
1133
Is there any difference between "wanted" vs "wanted to" for such situation?
- A: I'm not going to eat a lot this weekend!
- B: Couldn't do it even if you wanted to, I bet!
- A: I'm not going to eat a lot this weekend!
- B: Couldn't do it even if you wanted, I bet!
I feel the first one sounds more natural, talking as an English learner, but I don't know why.
prepositions
prepositions
asked Nov 23 at 19:39
Ian Rodrigues
1133
asked Nov 23 at 19:39
Ian Rodrigues
1133
asked Nov 23 at 19:39
Ian Rodrigues
1133
asked Nov 23 at 19:39
Ian Rodrigues
1133
asked Nov 23 at 19:39
Ian Rodrigues
1133
1133
migrated from english.stackexchange.com yesterday
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
migrated from english.stackexchange.com yesterday
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
1
As you are an English learner, you should be posting to SE English Language Learners.
– David
Nov 23 at 23:03
Further to @David's comment, the link is English Language Learners. An excellent site for fluent speakers as well! :-)
– Chappo
Nov 24 at 2:10
Great! Didn't know about it.
– Ian Rodrigues
Nov 24 at 10:32
add a comment |
1
As you are an English learner, you should be posting to SE English Language Learners.
– David
Nov 23 at 23:03
Further to @David's comment, the link is English Language Learners. An excellent site for fluent speakers as well! :-)
– Chappo
Nov 24 at 2:10
Great! Didn't know about it.
– Ian Rodrigues
Nov 24 at 10:32
1
1
As you are an English learner, you should be posting to SE English Language Learners.
– David
Nov 23 at 23:03
As you are an English learner, you should be posting to SE English Language Learners.
– David
Nov 23 at 23:03
Further to @David's comment, the link is English Language Learners. An excellent site for fluent speakers as well! :-)
– Chappo
Nov 24 at 2:10
Further to @David's comment, the link is English Language Learners. An excellent site for fluent speakers as well! :-)
– Chappo
Nov 24 at 2:10
Great! Didn't know about it.
– Ian Rodrigues
Nov 24 at 10:32
Great! Didn't know about it.
– Ian Rodrigues
Nov 24 at 10:32
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
In your question, 'to' is not a preposition - it is part of the infinitive 'to eat'. You couldn't even if you wanted to eat, I bet.
Because your example is in response to someone else's statement, 'eat' is already implied, so it is dropped and we are left with just 'to'. Compare this omission to your omission of 'you': You couldn't becomes Couldn't because 'you' is implied.
To answer the question, there are multiple correct options. wanted without 'to' is ok, but it's less specific. Both wanted and wanted to are correct, as are wanted to eat and wanted to eat a lot, but although the latter two are acceptable, they are tautology, so you wouldn't find them in a conversation.
I wouldn't guess the implied verb is 'to eat.' It may as easily be 'to avoid eating a lot'. To reflect the ambiguity, the answer might use 'to do' instead: 'you couldn't do it even if you wanted to do it.'
– Kay V
10 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
No difference in meaning, and one is no more common than the other. If you really wanted to dig through minutiae though, you might argue the 'to' ending the first sentence is extraneous. Forget this distinction as it's profoundly useless.
answered Nov 23 at 21:22
Kay V
1293
2
What? There's no difference between saying "He wanted a new bike for Christmas" and "He wanted to a new bike for Christmas"?
– Hot Licks
Nov 23 at 21:25
@HotLicks have ever had a dream where you wanted to ?? youtube.com/watch?v=G7RgN9ijwE4 :D
– Carly
Nov 23 at 21:28
1
@HotLicks There’s little to no difference in meaning/intent between the OP’s examples.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:17
1
I disagree that the “even if he wanted to” version is less grammatically sound than the version without the word to.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:19
@Chappo etc. - eh, sure - grammatically incorrect overstates the point. How do you feel about 'extraneous'? As such, would you agree most editors would strike it unless it had a stylistic justification? Answer modified.
– Kay V
Nov 24 at 22:37
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
0
down vote
The first example is grammatically correct because B-sentence is elliptical, and it can be reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted to EAT, I bet!'
In the second example B-sentence is reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted EAT, I bet!', which is grammatically wrong.
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
In your question, 'to' is not a preposition - it is part of the infinitive 'to eat'. You couldn't even if you wanted to eat, I bet.
Because your example is in response to someone else's statement, 'eat' is already implied, so it is dropped and we are left with just 'to'. Compare this omission to your omission of 'you': You couldn't becomes Couldn't because 'you' is implied.
To answer the question, there are multiple correct options. wanted without 'to' is ok, but it's less specific. Both wanted and wanted to are correct, as are wanted to eat and wanted to eat a lot, but although the latter two are acceptable, they are tautology, so you wouldn't find them in a conversation.
I wouldn't guess the implied verb is 'to eat.' It may as easily be 'to avoid eating a lot'. To reflect the ambiguity, the answer might use 'to do' instead: 'you couldn't do it even if you wanted to do it.'
– Kay V
10 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
In your question, 'to' is not a preposition - it is part of the infinitive 'to eat'. You couldn't even if you wanted to eat, I bet.
Because your example is in response to someone else's statement, 'eat' is already implied, so it is dropped and we are left with just 'to'. Compare this omission to your omission of 'you': You couldn't becomes Couldn't because 'you' is implied.
To answer the question, there are multiple correct options. wanted without 'to' is ok, but it's less specific. Both wanted and wanted to are correct, as are wanted to eat and wanted to eat a lot, but although the latter two are acceptable, they are tautology, so you wouldn't find them in a conversation.
I wouldn't guess the implied verb is 'to eat.' It may as easily be 'to avoid eating a lot'. To reflect the ambiguity, the answer might use 'to do' instead: 'you couldn't do it even if you wanted to do it.'
– Kay V
10 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
up vote
2
down vote
accepted
In your question, 'to' is not a preposition - it is part of the infinitive 'to eat'. You couldn't even if you wanted to eat, I bet.
Because your example is in response to someone else's statement, 'eat' is already implied, so it is dropped and we are left with just 'to'. Compare this omission to your omission of 'you': You couldn't becomes Couldn't because 'you' is implied.
To answer the question, there are multiple correct options. wanted without 'to' is ok, but it's less specific. Both wanted and wanted to are correct, as are wanted to eat and wanted to eat a lot, but although the latter two are acceptable, they are tautology, so you wouldn't find them in a conversation.
In your question, 'to' is not a preposition - it is part of the infinitive 'to eat'. You couldn't even if you wanted to eat, I bet.
Because your example is in response to someone else's statement, 'eat' is already implied, so it is dropped and we are left with just 'to'. Compare this omission to your omission of 'you': You couldn't becomes Couldn't because 'you' is implied.
To answer the question, there are multiple correct options. wanted without 'to' is ok, but it's less specific. Both wanted and wanted to are correct, as are wanted to eat and wanted to eat a lot, but although the latter two are acceptable, they are tautology, so you wouldn't find them in a conversation.
answered Nov 24 at 6:47
Joseph Paduch
I wouldn't guess the implied verb is 'to eat.' It may as easily be 'to avoid eating a lot'. To reflect the ambiguity, the answer might use 'to do' instead: 'you couldn't do it even if you wanted to do it.'
– Kay V
10 hours ago
add a comment |
I wouldn't guess the implied verb is 'to eat.' It may as easily be 'to avoid eating a lot'. To reflect the ambiguity, the answer might use 'to do' instead: 'you couldn't do it even if you wanted to do it.'
– Kay V
10 hours ago
I wouldn't guess the implied verb is 'to eat.' It may as easily be 'to avoid eating a lot'. To reflect the ambiguity, the answer might use 'to do' instead: 'you couldn't do it even if you wanted to do it.'
– Kay V
10 hours ago
I wouldn't guess the implied verb is 'to eat.' It may as easily be 'to avoid eating a lot'. To reflect the ambiguity, the answer might use 'to do' instead: 'you couldn't do it even if you wanted to do it.'
– Kay V
10 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
No difference in meaning, and one is no more common than the other. If you really wanted to dig through minutiae though, you might argue the 'to' ending the first sentence is extraneous. Forget this distinction as it's profoundly useless.
answered Nov 23 at 21:22
Kay V
1293
2
What? There's no difference between saying "He wanted a new bike for Christmas" and "He wanted to a new bike for Christmas"?
– Hot Licks
Nov 23 at 21:25
@HotLicks have ever had a dream where you wanted to ?? youtube.com/watch?v=G7RgN9ijwE4 :D
– Carly
Nov 23 at 21:28
1
@HotLicks There’s little to no difference in meaning/intent between the OP’s examples.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:17
1
I disagree that the “even if he wanted to” version is less grammatically sound than the version without the word to.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:19
@Chappo etc. - eh, sure - grammatically incorrect overstates the point. How do you feel about 'extraneous'? As such, would you agree most editors would strike it unless it had a stylistic justification? Answer modified.
– Kay V
Nov 24 at 22:37
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
No difference in meaning, and one is no more common than the other. If you really wanted to dig through minutiae though, you might argue the 'to' ending the first sentence is extraneous. Forget this distinction as it's profoundly useless.
answered Nov 23 at 21:22
Kay V
1293
2
What? There's no difference between saying "He wanted a new bike for Christmas" and "He wanted to a new bike for Christmas"?
– Hot Licks
Nov 23 at 21:25
@HotLicks have ever had a dream where you wanted to ?? youtube.com/watch?v=G7RgN9ijwE4 :D
– Carly
Nov 23 at 21:28
1
@HotLicks There’s little to no difference in meaning/intent between the OP’s examples.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:17
1
I disagree that the “even if he wanted to” version is less grammatically sound than the version without the word to.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:19
@Chappo etc. - eh, sure - grammatically incorrect overstates the point. How do you feel about 'extraneous'? As such, would you agree most editors would strike it unless it had a stylistic justification? Answer modified.
– Kay V
Nov 24 at 22:37
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
No difference in meaning, and one is no more common than the other. If you really wanted to dig through minutiae though, you might argue the 'to' ending the first sentence is extraneous. Forget this distinction as it's profoundly useless.
answered Nov 23 at 21:22
Kay V
1293
No difference in meaning, and one is no more common than the other. If you really wanted to dig through minutiae though, you might argue the 'to' ending the first sentence is extraneous. Forget this distinction as it's profoundly useless.
answered Nov 23 at 21:22
Kay V
1293
answered Nov 23 at 21:22
Kay V
1293
answered Nov 23 at 21:22
Kay V
1293
answered Nov 23 at 21:22
Kay V
1293
1293
2
What? There's no difference between saying "He wanted a new bike for Christmas" and "He wanted to a new bike for Christmas"?
– Hot Licks
Nov 23 at 21:25
@HotLicks have ever had a dream where you wanted to ?? youtube.com/watch?v=G7RgN9ijwE4 :D
– Carly
Nov 23 at 21:28
1
@HotLicks There’s little to no difference in meaning/intent between the OP’s examples.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:17
1
I disagree that the “even if he wanted to” version is less grammatically sound than the version without the word to.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:19
@Chappo etc. - eh, sure - grammatically incorrect overstates the point. How do you feel about 'extraneous'? As such, would you agree most editors would strike it unless it had a stylistic justification? Answer modified.
– Kay V
Nov 24 at 22:37
|
show 1 more comment
2
What? There's no difference between saying "He wanted a new bike for Christmas" and "He wanted to a new bike for Christmas"?
– Hot Licks
Nov 23 at 21:25
@HotLicks have ever had a dream where you wanted to ?? youtube.com/watch?v=G7RgN9ijwE4 :D
– Carly
Nov 23 at 21:28
1
@HotLicks There’s little to no difference in meaning/intent between the OP’s examples.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:17
1
I disagree that the “even if he wanted to” version is less grammatically sound than the version without the word to.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:19
@Chappo etc. - eh, sure - grammatically incorrect overstates the point. How do you feel about 'extraneous'? As such, would you agree most editors would strike it unless it had a stylistic justification? Answer modified.
– Kay V
Nov 24 at 22:37
2
2
What? There's no difference between saying "He wanted a new bike for Christmas" and "He wanted to a new bike for Christmas"?
– Hot Licks
Nov 23 at 21:25
What? There's no difference between saying "He wanted a new bike for Christmas" and "He wanted to a new bike for Christmas"?
– Hot Licks
Nov 23 at 21:25
@HotLicks have ever had a dream where you wanted to ?? youtube.com/watch?v=G7RgN9ijwE4 :D
– Carly
Nov 23 at 21:28
@HotLicks have ever had a dream where you wanted to ?? youtube.com/watch?v=G7RgN9ijwE4 :D
– Carly
Nov 23 at 21:28
1
1
@HotLicks There’s little to no difference in meaning/intent between the OP’s examples.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:17
@HotLicks There’s little to no difference in meaning/intent between the OP’s examples.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:17
1
1
I disagree that the “even if he wanted to” version is less grammatically sound than the version without the word to.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:19
I disagree that the “even if he wanted to” version is less grammatically sound than the version without the word to.
– Lawrence
Nov 23 at 23:19
@Chappo etc. - eh, sure - grammatically incorrect overstates the point. How do you feel about 'extraneous'? As such, would you agree most editors would strike it unless it had a stylistic justification? Answer modified.
– Kay V
Nov 24 at 22:37
@Chappo etc. - eh, sure - grammatically incorrect overstates the point. How do you feel about 'extraneous'? As such, would you agree most editors would strike it unless it had a stylistic justification? Answer modified.
– Kay V
Nov 24 at 22:37
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
0
down vote
The first example is grammatically correct because B-sentence is elliptical, and it can be reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted to EAT, I bet!'
In the second example B-sentence is reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted EAT, I bet!', which is grammatically wrong.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
The first example is grammatically correct because B-sentence is elliptical, and it can be reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted to EAT, I bet!'
In the second example B-sentence is reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted EAT, I bet!', which is grammatically wrong.
add a comment |
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
The first example is grammatically correct because B-sentence is elliptical, and it can be reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted to EAT, I bet!'
In the second example B-sentence is reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted EAT, I bet!', which is grammatically wrong.
The first example is grammatically correct because B-sentence is elliptical, and it can be reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted to EAT, I bet!'
In the second example B-sentence is reconstructed as
'Couldn't do it even if you you wanted EAT, I bet!', which is grammatically wrong.
answered Nov 24 at 5:28
user307254
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
As you are an English learner, you should be posting to SE English Language Learners.
– David
Nov 23 at 23:03
Further to @David's comment, the link is English Language Learners. An excellent site for fluent speakers as well! :-)
– Chappo
Nov 24 at 2:10
Great! Didn't know about it.
– Ian Rodrigues
Nov 24 at 10:32