What to Do, Where to Go and How to Start

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What to Do, Where to Go and How to Start

By the end: I can describe a decision or explain a practical next step.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Name the missing decision

Use what, where or when followed by to and a base verb after expressions such as know or decide.

I don’t know what to do.

We haven’t decided where to stay.

Two adults compare two hotel photo cards before choosing where to stay.
We haven’t decided where to stay.The accommodation choice is still open.

Explain a method

How to names a method. Show or tell can include the person receiving the explanation.

Can you show me how to use this?

She told us how to find the office.

A question inside a request changes its word order

Ask the question directlyHow do I start?

Do comes before the subject in this direct question.

Name what you need explainedTell me how to start.

How + to + base verb names the method.

Use a full clauseTell me how I should start.

Keep statement order: subject I before should.

Tell me how do I start copies direct-question order into an embedded clause. Choose the compact infinitive or a full clause with statement order.
A man explains a camera control to a woman holding the camera.
Can you show me how to use this?The practical object gives a context for asking how to use this.

Keep the actor clear

The context tells us who should act. A full clause is useful when the people differ or the short form is unclear.

I know when to leave.

I know when you need to leave.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Compare form and meaning with the model.

1. Shorten: I don’t know what I should say.

Compare a model and explanation

I don’t know what to say.

The understood speaker stays I.

2. Shorten: We must decide where we should meet.

Compare a model and explanation

We must decide where to meet.

The same group makes and follows the decision.

3. Complete: Show me how ___ open this file.

Compare a model and explanation

to

Use how to and a base verb.

4. Correct: I don’t know where to going.

Compare a model and explanation

I don’t know where to go.

Use go after to.

5. Correct: Tell me how do I start.

Compare a model and explanation

Tell me how to start.

The infinitive avoids direct-question order; how I should start also works.

6. Who uses the machine in She showed Ben how to use it?

Compare a model and explanation

Ben is the intended learner/user.

Show includes the person receiving the demonstration.

7. Make the other actor explicit: I know when to leave, but you mean when Ana must leave.

Compare a model and explanation

I know when Ana needs to leave.

A full clause specifies Ana.

8. Write one undecided choice and one request for a method.

Compare a model and explanation

I haven’t decided what to buy. Can you show me how to order?

Keep the two purposes clear.

A short conversation

Listen first, then open the transcript when useful.

Open the conversation transcript

A: I don’t know which ticket to buy.

B: Where do you want to go?

A: To the old town. Can you show me how to use this machine?

B: Of course. First, choose your destination.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have a separate score.

1. What information is missing?
Read the listening transcript

I know where to meet, but I don’t know when to arrive.

2. Who received the explanation?
Read the listening transcript

Maya showed Leo how to open the file.

3. What remains open?
Read the listening transcript

We haven’t decided whether to walk or take the bus.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Complete: I don’t know what ___ next.
2. Complete: Have you decided where ___?
3. Choose the request for a method.
4. She told us when to leave. Who is expected to leave?
5. Choose the base-verb pattern.
6. You mean Ana’s departure, not yours. Choose the explicit version.
7. Which names a choice rather than directly asks one?
8. Complete: Please tell me ___ to use this key. You need the method.

Use it in your own words

Speaking 1

Describe two small decisions you have not made.

Reveal a possible response

I haven’t decided what to cook or where to shop.

Success check: Use question words plus to-infinitives.

Speaking 2

Ask for help using an unfamiliar device.

Reveal a possible response

Can you show me how to turn this on and how to save my work?

Success check: Make the learner and method clear.

Put it all together

Plan a visit with one undecided choice, one known step and one request for help.

Reveal a possible response

We haven’t decided where to stay. We know when to travel. Can you show us how to book the tickets?

Success check: Keep who does each action clear.

Take it with you

I can describe a decision or explain a practical next step.

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