What for? = why?

[naif]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #61 "Chit Chat: In the supermarket", question 9

Employee: It's Thursday of course. What do you want to know .........?

(a) to
(b) at
(c) up
(d) for

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #61 "Chit Chat: In the supermarket", answer 9

Employee: It's Thursday of course. What do you want to know for?

Correct answer: (d) for
_________________________

It's Thursday of course. What do you want to know .........?

naif

[Mister Micawber]

.
What do you want to know for? = Why do you want to know?
What for? = why?
.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[The Proudest Grandfather]

Dear all,

"It's Thursday of course.What do you want to know for? "

Could it be "It's Thursday of course.What do you want to know it for?" as well in this context?

Thank you in advance.

The Proudest Grandfather

[Mister Micawber]

Not 'it', but 'that' would be a natural alternative.
_________________
Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[The Proudest Grandfather]

Thank you very much for your clarification.

The Proudest Grandfather

[Cristovam]

Why that? What`s the difference in the context above. In the oxford escolar dictionary there are many example about it. only one ex. "did you buy it?" Thanks in advance for your help.

[Beeesneees]

In Moister Micawber's example, 'that' works because it is a shortened form of
What do you want to know the answer to that question for?
_________________
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Cristovam]

I confess, I don`t understand the correct usage of preposition in the end of a phrase like in the sentence in question. Could someone help me? Thanks.

[Esl_Expert]

'What for?' = 'For what reason?' (i.e. 'Why?')

Thus, 'What do you want to know for?' is in essence a short form of 'For what reason do you want to know?' However, without the word 'reason', the word 'for' must be used AFTER 'what' for this meaning.

Without the word 'for' on the end of the sentence in the test, the meaning would change completely.

___________________________________________________________________
It takes less time to do a thing right, than it does to explain why you did it wrong." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

[Minh28]

In this sentence " Nelson's uncle (proposed/suggested/advised) him to study management information systems". I chose " proposed" but the right answer is "advised". I know " advise s.o to do s.th" but "propose so to do sth" also.
CAn you help me explain?

[Beeesneees]

advised - recommended

proposed - suggested. However, you have to 'suggest to do'. You would need the preposition 'to':'Nelson's uncle proposed to him that[he should study...'
_________________
"Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened."
Terry Pratchett

[Minh28]

Thanks Miss Beeesneees so much!
In conclusion, we can withdraw the structure with "suggest" and "propose" like that:
* " suggest s.o doing s.th" or "suggest s.o that S + should + bare inf"
* " propose to s.o to do s.th" or " propose to s.o that S + should + bare inf"
is it correct?