Double "Tos"
In the following sentence, is there a need to have the second "to"? If it is optional, may I know why? (How do I parse the sentence to explain the choice of the infinitive?):
"Trainees were expected to do the work to the best of their knowledge, and not to rely on model answers."
Top answer
Trainees were expected to [do the work to the best of their knowledge ] , and [not to rely on model answers ] . The second subordinator "to" can be omitted, in which case the two bracketed infinitival VPs (verb phrases) form a coordination. The subordinator "to" functions as a marker; it can mark not just one VP as subordinate, but a coordination of VPs, as I've shown.
- Trainees were expected to [do the work to the best of their knowledge ] , and [not to rely on model answers ] .
- The second subordinator "to" can be omitted, in which case the two bracketed infinitival VPs (verb phrases) form a coordination.
- The subordinator "to" functions as a marker; it can mark not just one VP as subordinate, but a coordination of VPs, as I've shown.
- The use of an infinitival clause here is not a choice; it is obligatory since the verb "expect" can take an infinitival clause as complement, but not a gerund-participial one, cf.
- the ungrammatical * Trainees were expected doing the work ...
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Trainees were expected to [do the work to the best of their knowledge], and [not to rely on model answers].
The second subordinator "to" can be omitted, in which case the two bracketed infinitival VPs (verb phrases) form a coordination.
The subordinator "to" functions as a marker; it can mark not just one VP as subordinate, but a coordination of VPs
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