To-infinitive clause or adverb?
Hey guys.
As you know, to-infinitives can act as adverbs, adjectives and nouns. In this sentence:
"My mom took me to see santa"
There are two ways to interpret that sentence: "me to see santa" (To-infinitive clause/phrase with an explicit subject acting as a noun, which is the direct object or verb complement of the verb Took)
And: took me - "to see santa" ("Me" direct object or verb complement of the verb Took, To-infinitive clause/phrase (To see santa) acting as an adverb showing purpose, describing the verb Took (the purpose of the verb)).
Are my interpretations correct? And could these sentences be seen in two different ways such as these?
Top answer
Prodigy "me to see santa" (To-infinitive clause/phrase with an explicit subject acting as a noun, which is the direct object or verb complement of the verb Took) No, I can't see this interpretation. It is "took me / to see Santa", not "took / me to see Santa". )
- Prodigy "me to see santa" (To-infinitive clause/phrase with an explicit subject acting as a noun, which is the direct object or verb complement of the verb Took) No, I can't see this interpretation.
- It is "took me / to see Santa", not "took / me to see Santa".
- )
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Prodigy"me to see santa" (To-infinitive clause/phrase with an explicit subject acting as a noun, which is the direct object or verb complement of the verb Took)
No, I can't see this interpretation. It is "took me / to see Santa", not "took / me to see Santa".
("Santa" needs a capital, by the way.)
0ProdigyMy mom took me to see Santa.
I would say that 'take' (in this meaning) has two complements, a person or thing, and a place. By the action of the subject, the person or thing is moved to the place.
In your sentence the infinitive of purpose suggests that the (
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