Is this infinitive used as adverb or adjective?

Question

Terry wanted to do something to help these children.In this sentence, is the infinitive phrase "to help these children" used as adverb or adjective?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

An adverb to my mind, but I suppose an argument could be made for an adjective.  And I have a feeling that CJ has an excellent explanation which I have forgotten.

Fivejedjon · Answer

My personal opinion (I am not) an expert in this area):

If we understand 'something to help' as 'something that would help', then 'to help' appears to be functioning adjectivally.

If we understand ''do something to help' as 'do something in order to help', then it appears to be functioning adverbially.

BillJ · Answer

Anonymous Terry wanted to do something to help these children.In this sentence, is the infinitive phrase "to help these children" used as adverb or adjective?

Terry wanted to do something to help these children.

I see this as a catenative construction, in which the two infinitival clauses are functioning as complements to the preceding verbs:

1. to do something to help these children is a catenative complement to “wanted”.

2. something to help these children is direct object of "do".

3. to help these children is an infinitival relative clause modifying "something". Infinitival relative clauses typically have a modal meaning comparable to that expressed in finites by "can" or "should". Compare something that could help these children.

Note that infinitival relative clauses are not adverbial; rather, they modify a head noun. In the OP's example "something" is head of the NP, and the relative clause "to help these children" modifies it.

Fivejedjon · Answer

In "He wanted to do something" we have a catenative construction,  but "to help these children" appears qualitatively different to me

Is this infinitive used as adverb or adjective?

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