be to-infinitive

Question

I find it difficult to figure out the following sentence, esp. due to the phrase "be mostly to". Usually, "be + to-infinitive" has five usages, I understand, any one of which does not seem to be able to work in the sentence:

Headgear is mostly to make people watching think it's safe.

Please help me figure it out. Thank you.

Teechr · Accepted Answer

Ray VirginHeadgear is mostly (used/needed) to make people (who are) watching think it's safe.

Does that help?

Anonymous · Answer

Dear teechr,
Thank you for taking time and replying to my question.
May I ask you a few more questions?
So in this case, "used/needed" and "who are" are simply understood, aren't they?
In this case, focusing on the "be + to-infinitive" structure in particular in order to
interpret the sentence is unnecessary, isn't it?
Does this kind of what I would say drastic omission sometimes take place depending
on a certain context?

The sentence concerned appears in the following passage:
Concern about the helath of boxers has already led to changes within the sport over
the last two decades. Fights are now sorter, and referees stop them sooner when they judge a boxer t ve unfit to contiunee. Othe measures instituted include gloves desinged to prevent boxdrs( jhumbs from damaging their opponents' eyes, ringside physciians with the authority to end fighs, and the compulsory use of paded hedgear in au\matueur mathces. Oweve, some reaerch has shown tht deadgear does not reduce

Anonymous · Answer

Dear teechr,

Sorry that I sent you the last message unfinished.
Let me continue the citation:

Concern about the health of boxers has already led to changes within the sport over
the last two decades. Fights are now sorter, and referees stop them sooner when they judge a boxer to be unfit to continue. Other measures instituted include gloves designed to prevent boxers' thumbs from damaging their opponents' eyes, ringside physician with the authority to end fights, and the compulsory use of pared headgear in amateur matches. However, some research has shown that headgear does not reduce the rate of head injury and may actually make the problem worse by creating a larger, and therefore easier, target for the opponent. "Headgear is mostly to make people watching think it's safe" says Lundberg.

Anonymous · Answer

Ray VirginHeadgear is mostly to make people watching think it's safe.

Take modifiers out and the sentence is clearer.

Headgear is to make people think (that) it is safe.

Teechr · Answer

Ray VirginSo in this case, "used/needed" and "who are" are simply understood, aren't they?

Yes, from the context.

Ray VirginIn this case, focusing on the "be + to-infinitive" structure in particular in order tointerpret the sentence is unnecessary, isn't it?

Probably.

Ray VirginDoes this kind of what I would say drastic omission sometimes take place depending on a certain context?

It does.

Anonymous · Answer

Dear teechr:

Thank you for your help.

H.R.V

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for the helpful tip.
R.V.

Teechr · Answer

You're welcome.

be to-infinitive

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