Sentence analysis / be + past participle + to infinitive
Hello,
I am having some problems with the sentence given below. I am not sure about the modal verb + be + past participle + to infinitive structure and how it can be broken up into its constituent parts.
Sentence: Some people/ may /be encouraged /to drive/ less.
Obviously, some people is the subject but the rest of it is confusing for me
I would appreciate it if someone could help me with this. I'm confused about what function each part plays. Thank you, as always.
Top answer
Start with this, where to drive less is a complement of the verb encourage : They encouraged me [to drive less]. Putting this in the passive voice: I was encouraged [to drive less]. Add the modal 'may' — an auxiliary verb.
- Start with this, where to drive less is a complement of the verb encourage : They encouraged me [to drive less].
- Putting this in the passive voice: I was encouraged [to drive less].
- Add the modal 'may' — an auxiliary verb.
- Modal verbs can only take the base form of a verb, so 'was' changes to 'be'.
- 'may be encouraged' is now the verb phrase.
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Start with this, where to drive less is a complement of the verb encourage:
They encouraged me [to drive less].
Putting this in the passive voice:
I was encouraged [to drive less].
Add the modal 'may' — an auxiliary verb. Modal verbs can only take the base form of a verb, so 'was' changes to 'be'.
'may be encouraged' is now the verb p
0CarewSome people/ may /be encouraged /to drive/ less.
I see may be encouraged to drive less as a predicate (a verb phrase with "be" as the head of the phrase and modal "may" as the pre-head of "be"), encouraged to drive less as a predicative complement (an adjective phrase where the adjective encouraged is the head of the phrase and
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