what to do v.s. what she can do
I was doing English multiple choice questions.
Please help me to figure out why the answer for the question below is A instead of B.
Thank you in advance.

The little girl didn’t know ________ when her mother left her alone.
(A)what to do
(B)what she can do

Question

what to do  v.s. what she can do
I was doing English multiple choice questions. 
Please help me to figure out why the answer for the question below is A instead of B.
Thank you in advance.

The little girl didn’t know ________ when her mother left her alone.  
(A)what to do  
(B)what she can do

Answer

a
B should be "what she could do 
Cause it says she DIDN'T know

Answer

"Didn't" - in the past, therefore you wouldn't say "can do" (present/future). For the sentence to be correct and consistent in tense it would need to be "didn't know what she COULD do".

But that is also simply not how we would phrase a sentence.. we would say "she didn't know what to do" (she was confused or scared and didnt know what action to take).

To say "what she can/could do" implies she isn't sure of what she is capable, or of what is permissable.

HTH :)

Answers · 3

Still haven’t found your answers?

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!