A place to stay / a place to stay at

Question

Hi  teachers!I have a couple of questions regarding to-infinitive.  First, why do you say "a place to stay", not "a place to stay at", while we say "a house to live in" not "a house to live" 1.  I need a place to stay 2. I need a place to stay at. 3. I need a house to live.4. I need a house to live. So, #2 and #3 are ungrammatical and never used?  What kinds of expression you native speakers say and write among those? I also wondering the phrases below are common  and grammatical.5. mood to talk6. an offer to help7. an urge to  do such a hard work As always any thanks native speakers

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Michelle ChaI have a couple of questions regarding to-infinitive. First, why do you say "a place to stay", not "a place to stay at", while we say "a house to live in" not "a house to live"

A better question would be why we say "place to live" but not "house to live". I have wondered that myself, and all I can come up with is that's just the way we say it.

Michelle ChaSo, #2 and #3 are ungrammatical and never used?

Something is wrong. Your 3 and 4 are the same. "A place to stay at" is non-standard (read "illiterate"), but it is possible in some dialects. "A house to live" is not possible.

Michelle ChaWhat kinds of expression you native speakers say and write among those?

This American would only ever say "a place to stay" and "a house to live in".

Michelle ChaI am also wondering if the phrases below are common and grammatical.

It is better to use complete sentences. You'd be surprised how often a context can be invented for any sequence of random words.

Michelle Cha5. mood to talk

OK.

Michelle Cha6. an offer to help

OK.

Michelle Cha7. an urge to do such a hard work

No. "Work" is non-count there.

CalifJim · Answer

* indicates ungrammatical;
? indicates possible but questionable or less used

a place to stay / ?a place to stay at
a place to live / ?a place to live in

But

*a hotel to stay / a hotel to stay at
*a house to live / a house to live in

Maybe it's because 'place' is a more general term for a location.

In any case the word 'place' is treated differently from a noun that refers to a specific place or kind of place.

Likewise

We need a place to hide. / We have a cellar to hide in.
We're looking for a place to eat. / We found a restaurant to eat at.
They don't have a place to go. / They would like a gym to go to.

Michelle Cha
5. mood to talk
6. an offer to help
7. an urge to do (something)

All OK and common.

These are different from the previous examples. In these the noun before the infinitive is not the object of the infinitive or infinitive-plus-preposition.

to stay at a hotel; to live in a house

But not

*to talk a mood; *to help an offer; *to do an urge

CJ

A place to stay / a place to stay at

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions