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Amir Oghlow Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Verb phrases

The small dog was reluctant to learn new things.
As what does "To learn" function? As an adverb or as an adjective.
And the same with "we can afford to buy a new house"
As what does "to buy" function?
  

Top answer

Amir Oghlow The small dog was reluctant to learn new things. "to learn new things" is an adjective complement. com/the-adjective-phrase-complement-in-english-grammar / Amir Oghlow And the same with "we can afford to buy a new house" "to buy a new house" is the object of the verb "can afford".

— AlpheccaStars

  • Amir Oghlow The small dog was reluctant to learn new things.
  • "to learn new things" is an adjective complement.
  • com/the-adjective-phrase-complement-in-english-grammar / Amir Oghlow And the same with "we can afford to buy a new house" "to buy a new house" is the object of the verb "can afford".
  • We can afford a new car.
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6 Answers
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Amir OghlowThe small dog was reluctant to learn new things.
"to learn new things" is an adjective complement.
http://www.linguisticsgirl.com/the-adjective-phrase-complement-in-english-grammar/
Amir OghlowAn
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AlpheccaStars"to buy a new house" is the object of the verb "can afford".
I'm sitting here fervently wishing you had said 'complement' instead of 'object', as objects are currently defined as noun phrases.

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CalifJimI'm sitting here fervently wishing you had said 'complement' instead of 'object',
I still have the old traditional terms in my head. Unlearning is challenging.

Is it better stated as a verb complement or a sentence complement? I'm leaning towards the former.
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AlpheccaStarsI still have the old traditional terms in my head.
Me, too. At least many of them. I agree that this is a challenge.
AlpheccaStarsIs it better stated as a verb complement or a sentence complement?
Verb complement. As I understand it, sentences can't have complements, but there may be cases of it. I, too, am
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Another option:
"we can afford to buy a new house"

A catenative verb structure, with "a new house" as the complement.

Ntext, linguists will change designation of language types - from SVO to SVC.
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AlpheccaStarsA catenative verb structure
Yes. I think I prefer that. I was going to mention it much earlier in the thread, but I didn't want to muddy the waters.

CJ
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