guessing function of infinitive verbs

[Matthew Wai]

To me both looks like it has the same function.

I think they function differently, but I am not a teacher.
The sentences will be considered in 'We would need actual sentences to consider'.
The sentences will NOT be said for sure in 'We would need actual sentences to say for sure'.

Can you see the difference?

 

[mawes12]

I think they function differently, but I am not a teacher.
The sentences will be considered in 'We would need actual sentences to consider'.
The sentences will NOT be said for sure in 'We would need actual sentences to say for sure'.

Can you see the difference?

I don't really see the difference to be honest.

 

[Matthew Wai]

'The sentences will be considered.'── It makes sense.
'The sentences will be said for sure.'── It doesn't make sense.

I would be surprised if you still saw no difference, but I am not a teacher.

 

[mawes12]

'The sentences will be considered.'── It makes sense.
'The sentences will be said for sure.'── It doesn't make sense.

I would be surprised if you still saw no difference, but I am not a teacher.

I understand but why did you put it in that way?

 

[Matthew Wai]

I put it that way to show the difference, which you had failed to notice.

Not a teacher.

 

[mawes12]

I put it that way to show the difference, which you had failed to notice.

Not a teacher.

Can you please explain?

 

[Matthew Wai]

'The sentences will say/be said for sure' does not make sense, so 'to say for sure' does not describe 'the sentences' and thus the infinitive phrase does not act as an adjective. As it is not adjectival, it is adverbial.

Not a teacher.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Mawes:

I'm still thinking about "I buy food to feed my cat," but I think that it was really interesting what one teacher told us: "I buy food to feed my cat with" is clearly adjectival.

If I am not mistaken, the formal version would be: "I buy food with which to feed my cat." As you can see, the relative pronoun is "which."

 

[Matthew Wai]

I'm still thinking about "I buy food to feed my cat,"

Do you mean my example sentence is wrong and should be replaced with the following one?

"I buy food with which to feed my cat."

 

[tedmc]

'The sentences will be said for sure.'It could mean " the sentences will definitely be said".

 

[mawes12]

'The sentences will be said for sure.'It could mean " the sentences will definitely be said".

That's why I'm kinda confused with Mathew's example because it kinda makes sense to me.

 

[tedmc]

It that case, it would have been clearer if it was written:

For sure the sentences will be said. Or
The sentences for sure will be said.

 

[Matthew Wai]

'The sentences will be said for sure.'It could mean " the sentences will definitely be said".

But this meaning does not fit MikeNewYork's original sentence.

Not a teacher.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


To: Matthew Wai
Re: Post 49

I am in no position to say that something is wrong. I am sure that MANY more people would say "I bought some food to feed my cat" than "I bought some food with which to feed my cat."

*****

To: Mawes

I STILL do not have the confidence to identify the function of the infinitive in "I went to the store to buy some food to feed my cat."

But I DID find two quotations in the "books" section of Google that raise some interesting questions.

1. "Many ... workers find themselves struggling to buy food that will feed their families one main meal." The underlined words are cleary adjectival, I believe.

a. Let's reduce that to: "...to buy food to feed their families one main meal."

Could we say that the infinitive phrase is adjectival, too?

2. "This plan outlines the minimum amount of money a family needs to spend on groceries in order to feed their families a healthy diet." I think that the underlined words are clearly adverbial.

a. Let's reduce that to: "...needs to spend on groceries to feed their families a healthy diet."

Could we say the infinitive phrase is adverbial, too?

Sources: TAMIL GEOGRAPHICS by Selby; ROLE OF FEDERAL FOOD ASSISTANCE.

 

[mawes12]

I guess the parser is right in saying that it can be both adjectival and adverbial when it comes after a direct object. What do you guys think?

 

[MikeNewYork]

There are times when it is arguable. But, as I said earlier it is not very important.

 

[mawes12]

There are times when it is arguable. But, as I said earlier it is not very important.

why do you say that? I think things are better when it is understandable.

 

[Esredux]

.... If I am not mistaken, the formal version would be: "I buy food with which to feed my cat." As you can see, the relative pronoun is "which."

It's interesting how differently people can view things! Up to this moment I was sure the sentence in question would mean "I buy food so that I can feed my cat".

 

[mawes12]

I think it's the same as participial phrase because participial phrases can be adjectival or adverbial in same sentence. Maybe I'm wrong.

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Yes, mawes, but the grammar label does not increase comprehension.