Using 'to - infinitive' as direct object

Question

Hi teachers, how are you all? I hope you all will be fine.

I want to ask you something about the 'full infinitive', which we also call 'to - infitive'. I know that one of the functions of a 'to - infinitive' is we can use it as the direct object of a trinsitive verb.

For example:
- Jane's father asked her to sit.
- I want you to tell me the truth.
- The committee expect all its members to be honest.

I understand that 'Jane's father' in my first example, 'I' in my second example, and 'The committee' in my last example are the subjects of the sentence. And the words which directly follow them, i.e., 'asked', 'want', and 'expect', are verbs. But I'm confused about the rest of the part in each sentence. I am confused about what the direct objects are in the sentences I have provided above. Please help me by removing my confusion.

Thank you all.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

LaboriousI want to ask you something about the 'full infinitive', which we also call 'to - infinitive'. I know that one of the functions of a 'to - infinitive' is we can use it as the direct object of a transitive verb.

By traditional grammatical analysis:

1- Jane's father (subject) asked (verb) [her to sit.]
her = a shared element; the indirect object of asked and the subject of the infinitive
The direct object is the to-infinitive clause - "her to sit."

2- - I (subject) want (verb) [you to tell me the truth. ]
you = a shared element; the direct object of want and the subject of the infinitive.
The direct object is the to-infinitive clause - [you to tell me the truth. ]

3-- The committee expect [all its members to be honest.]
The direct object is the to-infinitive clause - [all its members to be honest.]

Modern grammars probably take a different approach.

BillJ · Answer

LaboriousHi teachers, how are you all? I hope you all will be fine. I want to ask you something about the 'full infinitive', which we also call 'to - infitive'. I know that one of the functions of a 'to - infinitive' is we can use it as the direct object of a trinsitive verb.For example: -

[1]. Jane's father asked her to sit. -
[2]. I want you to tell me the truth. -
[3]. The committee expect all its members to be honest.
I understand that 'Jane's father' in my first example, 'I' in my second example, and 'The committee' in my last example are the subjects of the sentence. And the words which directly follow them, i.e., 'asked', 'want', and 'expect', are verbs. But I'm confused about the rest of the part in each sentence. I am confused about what the direct objects are in the sentences I have provided above. Please help me by removing my confusion. Thank you all.

In each of your examples the infinitival clause is functioning as complement to the verb preceding it:

In [1] “her” is object of "asked", and “to sit” is an infinitival clause functioning as complement of “asked”.

In [2] “you” is object of "want", and the infinitival clause “to tell me the truth” is complement of “want”. Within the infinitival clause, “the truth” and "me" are direct and indirect objects respectively of "tell".

In [3] “all its members” is object of "expect", and the infinitival clause “to be honest” is complement of “expect".

Constructions like these where there is a sequence of verbs (sometimes separated by an object) are often called ‘catenative’ (meaning “chain”).

Note that infinitival clauses do not normally function as objects, though in traditional grammar they are often analysed that way (as AS alludes to).

BillJ

Using 'to - infinitive' as direct object

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