Function of words in a sentence

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Anonymous  #513748  Wed, 14 May 08 11:33 PM

In the following construction, how do the words "speak" and "English" function? " Everyday I listen to my father speak English."

  
Avangi  #513794  Thu, 15 May 08 02:28 AM

I probably should have left this for someone who knows what he's talking about.  I'd say "speak" is a "bare infinitive" and "English" is it's direct object.  I believe the infinitive phrase acts as an adjective, modifying "father."

  
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CalifJim  #513805  Thu, 15 May 08 03:36 AM
Avangi
I'd say "speak" is a "bare infinitive" and "English" is it's direct object.
Me too.  I don't know what else it could be.

However, the adjective idea is weird.  Smile

father is the subject of the infinitive.  It's the father who does the speaking of English, after all.

You have interlocking clauses here.  I listen to my father.  My father speaks English.  The second becomes subordinate to the first, and its verb becomes non-finite.

CJ 

  
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