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Jooney Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
To be made
Hi,
To be sure, longtime bankers say, it is not as if short-term greed was absent in the past. It has been around since traders gathered under a buttonwood tree and founded the New York Stock Exchange in 1792. But the astounding size of Wall Street’s biggest firms — and the fortunes to be made— have altered the calculus.
I'd like to learn how the phrase in bold is grammatically structured.
Q1) Is this an example where a noun takes an infinitival complement?
other examples:
ex1)
A: Kim decided to go to France.
B: Kim's decision to go to France
ex2)
A: Kim is eager to help us.
B: Kim's eagerness to help us
ex3)
A: no relevant counterpart
B: an opportunity to make a quick profit
Q2) How should I interpret the meaning of "to be made"?
I'd appreciate your help.
To be sure, longtime bankers say, it is not as if short-term greed was absent in the past. It has been around since traders gathered under a buttonwood tree and founded the New York Stock Exchange in 1792. But the astounding size of Wall Street’s biggest firms — and the fortunes to be made— have altered the calculus.
I'd like to learn how the phrase in bold is grammatically structured.
Q1) Is this an example where a noun takes an infinitival complement?
other examples:
ex1)
A: Kim decided to go to France.
B: Kim's decision to go to France
ex2)
A: Kim is eager to help us.
B: Kim's eagerness to help us
ex3)
A: no relevant counterpart
B: an opportunity to make a quick profit
Q2) How should I interpret the meaning of "to be made"?
I'd appreciate your help.
Top answer
jooney Q1) Is this an example where a noun takes an infinitival complement? I wouldn't call it a complement. It's just a modifier.
- jooney Q1) Is this an example where a noun takes an infinitival complement?
- I wouldn't call it a complement.
- It's just a modifier.
- Nouns can take various types of verbals as modifiers.
- Your original is a passive infinitive.
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4 Answers
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jooneyQ1) Is this an example where a noun takes an infinitival complement?I wouldn't call it a complement. It's just a modifier. Nouns can take various types of verbals as modifiers.
Your original is a passive infinitive.
jooneyQ2) How should I interpret the meaning of "to be made"?(There are fortunes.)
(There are
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Thank you for your reply, Avangi.
Can this kind of passive infinitive clause be constructed with any noun? Thanks.
Can this kind of passive infinitive clause be constructed with any noun? Thanks.
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I guess the category of appropriate nouns would be limited to those which can be the object of some action.
That is, you can make a fortune. You can drive a car.
That is, you can make a fortune. You can drive a car.
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