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Laborious Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Function of the 'to - infinitive' preceeded by the verb 'refuse'
Dear teachers, Could you please tell me what the function of the 'infinitive phrase/clause' is in each of the following sentences?
Here are the sentences:
1) The Chief Justice refused to ban bursting crackers during the night of Diwali.
2) Most of the company's employees refused the CEO to accept the new policies.
Here are the sentences:
1) The Chief Justice refused to ban bursting crackers during the night of Diwali.
2) Most of the company's employees refused the CEO to accept the new policies.
Top answer
(2) is incorrect. You can't "refuse someone to do something", except maybe in an interpretation that "to" means "in order to", which in this case is peculiar and strained. For (1), I would prefer to say "refused to ban the bursting of crackers".
- (2) is incorrect.
- You can't "refuse someone to do something", except maybe in an interpretation that "to" means "in order to", which in this case is peculiar and strained.
- For (1), I would prefer to say "refused to ban the bursting of crackers".
- In any case, "to ban" has the obvious function, namely that of indicating what he refused to do.
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2 Answers
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(2) is incorrect. You can't "refuse someone to do something", except maybe in an interpretation that "to" means "in order to", which in this case is peculiar and strained.
For (1), I would prefer to say "refused to ban the bursting of crackers". In any case, "to ban" has the obvious function, namely that of indicating what he refused to do.
For (1), I would prefer to say "refused to ban the bursting of crackers". In any case, "to ban" has the obvious function, namely that of indicating what he refused to do.
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Laboriousthe function of the 'infinitive phrase/clause'The infinitive may be said to be a complement of the verb. It tells which action the subject is refusing to do.
Laborious1) The Chief Justice refused to ban bursting crackers during the night of Diwali. 2) Most of the company's employees refused the CEO to accept the new policies.
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