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Cynthia3754 Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Nominal infinitive clauses versus infinitive phrases
What is the differences between infinitive phrases and nominal clauses that begin with infinitive verbs? I understand that nominal clauses function as a replacement for a noun, but I am having trouble remembering reliable examples that will make it easier for to me spot.
For example:
When my wife and I go shopping at the mall, we often want to visit the furniture store.
"at the mall" is the prepositional phrase that is functioning as a adverbial, because it is answering the question "where", but what about "to visit the furniture store"? Is it functioning as an infinitive phrase or an infinitive nominal. I think that it is an nominal infinitive.
I am getting very confused. What I have found in all my books and the web is this:
To-infinitive nominal clauses:
These can act as subject, direct object, subject complement, appositive, adjectival complement.
"He likes (everyone to be happy)." (direct object)
"His ambition, (to be a movie star), was never fulfilled." (appositive)
"I'm glad (to help you)." (adjectival complement)
It seems so easy for them to teach me this, but then they throw me off, because the examples are always so different from what is on the assignment.
Could someone please made a list of different nominal clauses that begin with the infinitive. I would appreciate it very much. Thanks so much.
Cynthia
For example:
When my wife and I go shopping at the mall, we often want to visit the furniture store.
"at the mall" is the prepositional phrase that is functioning as a adverbial, because it is answering the question "where", but what about "to visit the furniture store"? Is it functioning as an infinitive phrase or an infinitive nominal. I think that it is an nominal infinitive.
I am getting very confused. What I have found in all my books and the web is this:
To-infinitive nominal clauses:
These can act as subject, direct object, subject complement, appositive, adjectival complement.
"He likes (everyone to be happy)." (direct object)
"His ambition, (to be a movie star), was never fulfilled." (appositive)
"I'm glad (to help you)." (adjectival complement)
It seems so easy for them to teach me this, but then they throw me off, because the examples are always so different from what is on the assignment.
Could someone please made a list of different nominal clauses that begin with the infinitive. I would appreciate it very much. Thanks so much.
Cynthia
Top answer
Cynthia3754 Could someone please made a list of different nominal clauses that begin with the infinitive. I would appreciate it very much. Thanks so much To err is human To expect more from him is unreasonable.
- Cynthia3754 Could someone please made a list of different nominal clauses that begin with the infinitive.
- I would appreciate it very much.
- Thanks so much To err is human To expect more from him is unreasonable.
- To be, or not to be, that is the question.
- He is always the first to come.
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1 Answers
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Cynthia3754Could someone please made a list of different nominal clauses that begin with the infinitive. I would appreciate it very much. Thanks so muchTo err is human
To expect more from him is unreasonable.
To be, or not to be, that is the question.
He is always the first to come.
I have a job to do.
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