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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Tricky, but intriguing

This is my comparison result for these two sentences, please run over/through it. Thank you.

1. We have 10,000 members spread all over the country. (this 'spread' is bare infinitive)

2. We get 10,000 members spread all over the country. (this 'spread' is a past participle)

Although the verb forms of 'spread' above are different, they mean the same thing: cause something to happen or be done by ourselves, not by somebody else.

Is my idea correct? Do you agree with me?

Thanks no end.
  

Top answer

Hard to say. #1 is not an infinitive; it is a past participle heading a non-finite clause. #2 is not good English.

— Mister Micawber

  • Hard to say.
  • #1 is not an infinitive; it is a past participle heading a non-finite clause.
  • #2 is not good English.
  • And I don't think there is any information about who does the spreading in either case.
  • So all in all, I think you had better start again.
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2 Answers
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Hard to say.

#1 is not an infinitive; it is a past participle heading a non-finite clause. #2 is not good English. And I don't think there is any information about who does the spreading in either case.

So all in all, I think you had better start again.
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After reading your reply, I agree with you that the #1 is not an infinitive but past participle acting as an adjective.

Thank you, again.
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