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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Two difficult to understand to-infinitives
The protagonist got a temporary job for Doctor South at a rural hospital as soon as he graduated a medical school.
The night before he was to leave, Doctor South offered him the partnership.
...........................................
Philip knew it was a chance that most people in his profession would jump at; the profession was over-crowded, and half the men he knew would be thankful to accept the certainty of even so modest a competence as that.
"I'm awfully sorry, but I can't," he said. "It means giving up everything I've aimed at for years. In one way and another I've had a roughish time, but I always had that one hope before me, to get qualified so that I might travel; and now, when I wake in the morning, my bones simply ache to get off, I don't mind where particularly, but just away, to places I've never been to."
[Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham]
1. I'd like to know if "to get qualified" means "that can get qualified."
2. And I'd like to know if "to get off" means "that intend to get off."
Thank you in advance for your help.
The night before he was to leave, Doctor South offered him the partnership.
...........................................
Philip knew it was a chance that most people in his profession would jump at; the profession was over-crowded, and half the men he knew would be thankful to accept the certainty of even so modest a competence as that.
"I'm awfully sorry, but I can't," he said. "It means giving up everything I've aimed at for years. In one way and another I've had a roughish time, but I always had that one hope before me, to get qualified so that I might travel; and now, when I wake in the morning, my bones simply ache to get off, I don't mind where particularly, but just away, to places I've never been to."
[Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham]
1. I'd like to know if "to get qualified" means "that can get qualified."
2. And I'd like to know if "to get off" means "that intend to get off."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon 1. " the hope to get qualified = the hope that I can qualify. park sang joon 2.
- park sang joon 1.
- " the hope to get qualified = the hope that I can qualify.
- park sang joon 2.
- " my bones simply ache to get off = I really want to get off.
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4 Answers
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park sang joon1. I'd like to know if "to get qualified" means "that can get qualified."the hope to get qualified= the hope that I can qualify.
park sang joon2. And I'd like to know if "to get off" means "that intend to get off."my bones simply ache to get off = I really want to get off.
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Thank you, Mr. Micawber, for your So very helpful answer. 
2. my bones simply ache to get off = I really want to get
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park sang joonI'd like to ask you to rephrase as a clause only the phrase "to get off", fWe don't do that. 'Ache to', 'want to', 'hope to', etc are all common structures; the verbs don't take another easily.
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