All I have to do is try hard, is "all" the Object of "have" or of "do"?

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Anonymous  #406054  Sat, 18 Aug 07 08:01 AM


I'd be happy if someone would answer my question. Thanks in advance.

Concerning the sentence: I've done all I had to do, is "all" the Object of "had" or of "do"?

Concerning the sentence: All I have to do is try hard, is "all" the Object of "have" or of "do"?

  
Mister Micawber  #406091  Sat, 18 Aug 07 10:20 AM

1-- 'All' is the object of 'have done'
2-- 'All' is not an object-- it is the subject of 'is'.


  
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Anonymous  #406451  Sun, 19 Aug 07 04:30 PM

--Hi, Cax. Sorry I failed to make my question clear.
    What I mean is whether in a relative clause in "I've done all that I had to do", "all" is the         Object of "had" or of "do".
 
    Similarly, what I mean is whether in a relative clause in "All that I have to do is try hard",
    "all" is the Object of "have" or of "do".

    Would you think this matter over again?

  
CalifJim  #406557  Sun, 19 Aug 07 10:57 PM
In the relative clause it's actually the relative pronoun that that you're interested in, right?

all that I [have / had] to dothat is the direct object of do, in the most straight forward reading.  (that is assumed if omitted, of course.)  But there is ambiguity, and that could also be the direct object of have (or had).

I have to do these things.  I have these things to do.

Still, even in the second sentence, the object of have is simultaneously the object of do.  Paraphrasing with bad grammar:

*I have these things such that I must do these things.

CJ


  
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