Infinitive marker to: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
* Infinitival ''to'' precedes a base form verb. | * Infinitival ''to'' precedes a base form verb. | ||
* The distribution is like that of auxiliaries, but in infinitival clauses | * The distribution is like that of auxiliaries, but in infinitival clauses. It appears between the subject and the verb phrase: | ||
# It is crucial [for John ''to'' show an interest]. | # It is crucial [for John ''to'' show an interest]. | ||
# It is crucial that John ''should'' show an interest. | # It is crucial that John ''should'' show an interest. | ||
Revision as of 12:35, 21 April 2017
General characteristics:
- Infinitival to precedes a base form verb.
- The distribution is like that of auxiliaries, but in infinitival clauses. It appears between the subject and the verb phrase:
- It is crucial [for John to show an interest].
- It is crucial that John should show an interest.
- Ellipsis
- I know I should [go to the dentist’s], but I just don’t want to.
- I don’t really want to [go to the dentist’s], but I know I should.