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Jooney Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Infinitive
Hi,
I have a key to open the door.
Q1) Is the infinitive a relative clause? or Is it more accurate to say that it's a content clause?
Q2) Does the verb 'open' take an inanimate subject?
ex) The key opened the door.
Q3) How about the following pair? Are they grammatically correct?
A: I have a key to open the door with.
B: I have a key with which to open the door.
Thank you in advance for your help.
I have a key to open the door.
Q1) Is the infinitive a relative clause? or Is it more accurate to say that it's a content clause?
Q2) Does the verb 'open' take an inanimate subject?
ex) The key opened the door.
Q3) How about the following pair? Are they grammatically correct?
A: I have a key to open the door with.
B: I have a key with which to open the door.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
1. It's an infinitival relative clause, and certainly not a content clause, but it could also be interpreted as an infinitive of purpose. I don't think the infinitive-of-purpose interpretation is what they're looking for in your course.
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- It's an infinitival relative clause, and certainly not a content clause, but it could also be interpreted as an infinitive of purpose.
- I don't think the infinitive-of-purpose interpretation is what they're looking for in your course.
- An infinitival content clause would be They made a decision to tear down the building .
- The decision IS to tear down of the building, so to speak.
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4 Answers
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1. It's an infinitival relative clause, and certainly not a content clause, but it could also be interpreted as an infinitive of purpose. I don't think the infinitive-of-purpose interpretation is what they're looking for in your course.
An infinitival content clause would be They made a decision to tear down the building. The decision IS to tear down of the building, so t
An infinitival content clause would be They made a decision to tear down the building. The decision IS to tear down of the building, so t
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Thank you very much for the reply, CJ.
I have additional questions.
Q1) What would be a close finite clause paraphrase of the infinitive given that it has a relative clause reading?
Q2) As far as I know, the purpose infinitives can be preceded by 'in order'. ex) I have a key in order to open the door. In what context would you say this?
Q3) What is the differe
I have additional questions.
Q1) What would be a close finite clause paraphrase of the infinitive given that it has a relative clause reading?
Q2) As far as I know, the purpose infinitives can be preceded by 'in order'. ex) I have a key in order to open the door. In what context would you say this?
Q3) What is the differe
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1. I have a key which will open the door.
2. I can't think of a context just now. I don't think I use that "in order to" phrase very often.
3. I don't sense a difference. Also, I have no idea what subtlety you might be trying to get at.
4. All three of those are, in my opinion, infinitival relative clauses. The paraphrase for each involves a word like "required" o
2. I can't think of a context just now. I don't think I use that "in order to" phrase very often.
3. I don't sense a difference. Also, I have no idea what subtlety you might be trying to get at.
4. All three of those are, in my opinion, infinitival relative clauses. The paraphrase for each involves a word like "required" o
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Thank you so much for the helpful answers. That was pretty much all I needed to know actually.
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