Function of infinitives

Question

Hi there!I teach adults English as a Second Language, and I'm stuck on something.We are reviewing the functions of gerunds and infinitives:SubjectSubject complementNoun complementAdjective complementDirect objectObject of prepositionMy struggle is with sentences like the following:1. An effective motivator needs to know how to help people deal with their failure.2. The eleventh principle is to learn how to deal with troublemakers in the group.3. A leader who does not learn how to handle a problematic person will never learn how to stay in difficult situations and solve them.In #1, "to know" is the direct object of the verb "needs." My problem lies with the phrase? clause? that follows with "how." In which of the above categories does "to help" fall under?In #2, "to learn" is the subject complement. What is "to deal"?In #3, "how" is throwing me off once again.Is "how" simply an adverb? If so, can it be the object of the previous infinitive? Would it then be considered the direct object of the infinitive verb?Help! What would each of those examples be considered according to the list above, and why?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

blue zany 622"how" is throwing me off once again.

Yes, it seems that these instances of clauses that begin with "how" are causing trouble for you.

Verbs like 'know' and 'learn' — take a deep breath — can take infinitival interrogative content clauses (infinitival interrogatives for short). Take a look at some of them:

I know [what to do]. / Frieda learned [how to say 'hello' in Swahili]. / Catherine didn't know [when to start the meeting].

Note that they start with a question word (who, what, when, where, how, ...) which is followed by an infinitive. Since you asked specifically about how, I should mention that it is an interrogative adverb.

The infinitive itself in these constructions does not have any of the functions you have listed in your post. (It is simply the non-finite verb within a non-finite clause.)

It is the whole clause, starting with and including the question word, that is the complement of the preceding verb. In your list of terms from traditional grammar this would be a direct object, but let me emphasize that the infinitive by itself is not a direct object.

CJ

Function of infinitives

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