Representing thinking, perceiving, liking and desiring

Using verb patterns to represent thoughts and beliefs

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Verb followed by an if/whether clause

The verbs in this category can be followed by an if/whether clause, typically related to a yes/no question, which represents the thing which is thought, known, determined, clarified, etc:

Mr Chau said he had to clarify whether they should inform the Commissioner of Police before the meeting. (SCMP 16/9/92)

Here is a list of verbs which can be followed by an if/whether clause:

clarify  doubt  investigate  wonder  consider evaluate know decide find learn determine look into think

Introduction
Participants associated with thinking verbs
Grammatical patterns associated with thoughts
Verb followed by a that clause
Verb followed by a noun group
Verb followed by a wh-clause
Verb followed by an if/whether clause
Verb followed by the -ing form
Verb followed by an object and the -ing form
Verb followed by the to-infinitive
Verb followed by an object and the to-infinitive
Verb followed by the actual words thought
Ellipsis and substitution with thinking verbs
Present simple v present continuous tense
A note on the order of participants