Two different functions of "to do something"
Hello, my friends. I have two sentences and I would like to ask you what the functions of the bold parts are.
1-) Individuals have recourse to courts or government agencies to investigate non-compliance by data processors.
"to investigate non-compliance by data processors" refers to "courts" and "agencies".
It can not be an adverbial answering the questions "why do they have recourse" or "what do they have them to do?" because citizens can't investigate an event, it is not their business. So it must refer to "courts" and "agencies".
We should read it like
"Individuals have recourse [to courts or government agencies to investigate non-compliance by data processors.]"
2-) Individuals have recourse to courts or government agencies to prosecute people collecting data illegally.
"to prosecute people collecting data illegally" refers to "have" and answers the questions "why do they have recourse" or "what do they have them to do?"
So, the bold part in the first example is an adjectival modifying "courts" and "agencies".
the bold part in the second example is an adverbial infinitive phrase.
Do you agree with me? Thank you very much.
Top answer
I read the "to" phrases as adverbial (meaning "in order to") in both sentences. e. tells us what kind of courts and agencies, is hard for me to grasp in that sentence context.
- I read the "to" phrases as adverbial (meaning "in order to") in both sentences.
- e.
- tells us what kind of courts and agencies, is hard for me to grasp in that sentence context.
- ] because citizens can't investigate an event, it is not their business.
- In normal reading we might overlook this, or equate "individuals investigate non-compliance" with "individuals have someone investigate non-compliance for them".
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I read the "to" phrases as adverbial (meaning "in order to") in both sentences. The interpretation that "to investigate non-compliance by data processors" modifies "courts" and "agencies", i.e. tells us what kind of courts and agencies, is hard for me to grasp in that sentence context.
JawelIt can not be an adverbial [...] because citizens can't investigate an event
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