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Ecik Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
'used to' as sentence element
Dear users,
please consider the following sentences:
1. I used to like opera.
2. We were used to odd characters coming and going.
My question is: what sentence element is used to in the two sentences?
I believe that in 1 used to functions as an auxiliary verb (part of the predicator 'used to like').
I am not sure about 2, however, but my guess is that used to is a subject predicative, postmodified by odd characters coming and going, in the same fashion as busy is postmodified by writing in: I am busy writing.
Can anyone verify this please? I would much appreciate your help.
Best
Mirek
please consider the following sentences:
1. I used to like opera.
2. We were used to odd characters coming and going.
My question is: what sentence element is used to in the two sentences?
I believe that in 1 used to functions as an auxiliary verb (part of the predicator 'used to like').
I am not sure about 2, however, but my guess is that used to is a subject predicative, postmodified by odd characters coming and going, in the same fashion as busy is postmodified by writing in: I am busy writing.
Can anyone verify this please? I would much appreciate your help.
Best
Mirek
Top answer
They are two different structures. #1 is, as you say, sort of an auxiliary. #2 is 'be/get + adjective'; 'used to' there is considered an adjective.
- They are two different structures.
- #1 is, as you say, sort of an auxiliary.
- #2 is 'be/get + adjective'; 'used to' there is considered an adjective.
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5 Answers
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They are two different structures. #1 is, as you say, sort of an auxiliary. #2 is 'be/get + adjective'; 'used to' there is considered an adjective.
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Thank you for your swift reply.
Is used to in #1 what you call a catenative?
If used to in #2 is an adjective, then it must function as a subject predicative (SP). Is it correct to say that this SP is postmodified by odd characters coming and going?
What about the following sentence: I wasn't used to his accent. If used to is an adject
Is used to in #1 what you call a catenative?
If used to in #2 is an adjective, then it must function as a subject predicative (SP). Is it correct to say that this SP is postmodified by odd characters coming and going?
What about the following sentence: I wasn't used to his accent. If used to is an adject
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#1-- I suppose that you could include it in the catenatives, but that's not saying much: catenatives are most any verb that governs another verb. Quirk et al. call it a 'marginal modal' or an 'auxiliary of tense and aspect'.
#2-- The 'to', I suppose, is not part of the adjective , but a preposition whose object is 'odd characters'. We can form many similar structures: I'm accustome
#2-- The 'to', I suppose, is not part of the adjective , but a preposition whose object is 'odd characters'. We can form many similar structures: I'm accustome
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So, in #2 'to odd characters coming and going' is a prepositional phrase that (post)modifies 'used'? As simple as that?
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