'send someone to do'

Question

I have learned that 'send someone to do' and 'to do' functions as an object complement like in 'I've sent Tom to buy milk'. Here in the sentence to buy functions as an object complement.

However, I was wondering if 'to do' functions as an object complement or an adverbial phrase?

The government sent rescue teams to help them.

Here in the sentence, I feel like to help them functions as both and there is no meaning difference.

What do you native English speakers think? Thank you so much as usual in advance.

GPY · Accepted Answer

Hans51 have learned that 'send someone to do' and 'to do' functions as an object complement like in 'I've sent Tom to buy milk'. Here in the sentence to buy functions as an object complement.

I am happy to be corrected, but I question whether it is an object complement. An object complement normally is a description of or restatement of the object. "to buy milk" doesn't have that relationship with "Tom".

Hans51The government sent rescue teams to help them.Here in the sentence, I feel like to help them functions as both and there is no meaning difference.

I most naturally understand "to help them" as explaining the purpose of "sent". The other possible interpretation is that "to help them" modifies "rescue teams". While this is grammatically possible, I find it semantically unlikely.

'send someone to do'

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