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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Nominal infinitives ?

My grammar book said that “to be competent“ in The court found him to be competent is classified as an nominal infinitive. I don’t understand Why ”to be competent“ is an nominal infinitive. As far as I know, to be competent is an adjectival infinitive (noun modifier) because ”to be competent“ postmodifies ”him“ as “to fit in that corner” postmodifies “a cupboard” in He is building a cupboard to fit in that corner.
  

Top answer

Anonymous I don’t understand Why ”to be competent“ is an nominal infinitive. Yes, that is one possibility. ] The other possibility is the infinitive as an object complement.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Anonymous I don’t understand Why ”to be competent“ is an nominal infinitive.
  • Yes, that is one possibility.
  • ] The other possibility is the infinitive as an object complement.
  • ] = The court found him [ competent].
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2 Answers
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Anonymous I don’t understand Why ”to be competent“ is an nominal infinitive.
Yes, that is one possibility.

The infinitive has the subject "him." The (reduced) infinitive clause is the complement of the verb "find."
The parsing is like this:

The court found [him to be competent.] = The court found [that he was competent.]

The oth
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Anonymous My grammar book said that “to be competent“ in The court found him to be competent is classified as an nominal infinitive. I don’t understand Why ”to be competent“ is an nominal infinitive. As far as I know, to be competent is an adjectival infinitive (noun modifier) because ”to be competent“ postmodifies ”him“ as “to fit in that corner” postmodifies “a cupboard
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