A puzzling question
A lot of teachers in my country say, " We use "TRY TO +INF." when we attempt to do something and our attempt ends in failure. I have a different opinion and I would be grateful if you told me whether it is correct or not. think that we use "TRY TO +INF." to say that that something is difficult and we make an attempt to do it . We sometimes succeed in doing it. Look at the following example from "Gulliver's Travels" :
-I tried for some time to catch up with the boat and after many hours, it finally saw my sails. As I got closer, I was happy to see the boat had an English flag, and it was not a tiny ship but the correct size.
Here, his attempt was not a failure. Am I right to think that using" TRY TO +INF." doesn't not necessarily mean our attempt will end in failure
Top answer
You are right. The "try" in 'try + to -infinitival means "endeavour". Of course, one's endeavours may or may not be successful!
- You are right.
- The "try" in 'try + to -infinitival means "endeavour".
- Of course, one's endeavours may or may not be successful!
- )
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You are right.
The "try" in 'try + to-infinitival means "endeavour". Of course, one's endeavours may or may not be successful!
(Interestingly, "try" can also take a participial clause as complement, as in You should try eating less, where the meaning is not "endeavour" but "test the effectiveness of".)
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