Permission [adjective or adverbial modifier?]
Consider this sentence, please:
They need permission to help you.
In the above sentence, is to help you modifying permission Or the verb need?
a) They need [permission to help you]. OR
b) They need permission (in order) to help you.
Top answer
With no more context or information, (b) is the interpretation that comes to my mind. However, it depends on context. For example: Interpretation (a): What kind of permission do they need?
- With no more context or information, (b) is the interpretation that comes to my mind.
- However, it depends on context.
- For example: Interpretation (a): What kind of permission do they need?
- They need permission to help you.
- Interpretation (b): Why aren't they helping me?
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With no more context or information, (b) is the interpretation that comes to my mind. However, it depends on context. For example:
Interpretation (a):
What kind of permission do they need?
They need permission to help you.
Interpretation (b):
Why aren't they helping me?
They need permission to help you.
0The infinitival "to help you" can't be modifying "permission", since that would mean it was a relative clause, which is clearly not the case here.
The salient interpretation is that it is a purpose adjunct, an optional item in clause structure, i.e. it modifies the verb phrase "need permission".
Most often the preposition "in order" can be optionally added, in which case the subord
0
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