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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Function of an Infinitive Phrase

How to identify if an infinitive phrase is behaving as a noun phrase or an adverbial phrase ?

Example: Albert attempted to climb the tallest mountain in the world.

Is the phrase "to climb mountain the tallest in the world" behaving as a noun phrase or an adverbial phrase ?
  

Top answer

It's a noun phrase as the direct object of attempt . If you can replace the phrase with a noun, the phrase is nominal. If you can insert in order before the phrase and it still makes sense, it's adverbial.

— RandomGuy

  • It's a noun phrase as the direct object of attempt .
  • If you can replace the phrase with a noun, the phrase is nominal.
  • If you can insert in order before the phrase and it still makes sense, it's adverbial.
  • ] nominal phrase One must possess great stamina [in order] to climb he tallest mountain in the world .
  • adverbial phrase
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3 Answers
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It's a noun phrase as the direct object of attempt. If you can replace the phrase with a noun, the phrase is nominal. If you can insert in order before the phrase and it still makes sense, it's adverbial.

Albert attempted [forgery / to climb the tallest mountain in the world.] nominal phrase
One must possess great stamina
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Infinitive phrase is a group of words that begins with an infinitive (to + verb) and ends with its object or modifiers. It is used as noun, adjective, or adverb.
  • I like to swim in the morning. (noun)
  • His ambition to become a teacher is something possible. (adjective modifying "ambition")
  • It is not easy to do this homework. (adver
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AnonymousHis ambition to become a teacher is something possible. (adjective modifying "ambition")
No.
AnonymousIt is not easy to do this homework. (adverb modifying "easy")
No.
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