infinitive

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	Taka  #474777  Sat, 09 Feb 08 10:50 AM An infinitive phrase consists of an infinitive and its modifiers, objects, or complements. It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb. (1)Proofreading your writing is a good way to ensure the absence of typing mistakes. infinitive phrase = adjective modifying way (2)To greatly increase the amount of stress in your life, leave your writing task until the night before it is due. infinitive phrase = adverb modifying leave http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/phraseformulas.html Now, which kind of infinitive is it here in red? Growing up in a society, we learn how to use gestures, glances, slight changes in tone of voice, and other auxiliary communication devices to alter or emphasize what we say and do. (1) other auxiliary communication devices to alter or emphasize what we say and do (i.e. adjective modifying other auxiliary communication devices) (2)we learn how to use gestures...and other auxiliary communication devices in order to alter or emphasize what we say and do=in order to alter or emphasize what we say and do, we learn how to use... (i.e. adverb modiying (we) learn)    Taka Joined on Tue, Sep 7 2004 Japan Senior Member (2,266)
Select Tags... SaveCancel Adverbs, Auxiliaries, Grammar, Nouns, Proofreading, Verbs

	Marius Hancu  #474790  Sat, 09 Feb 08 11:06 AM Read it in full and you'll know which: Growing up in a society, we learn how to use gestures, glances, slight changes in tone of voice, and other auxiliary communication devices that/which are (designed) to alter or emphasize what we say and do.    Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Montreal, Canada Veteran Member (11,673)
Auxiliaries

	Taka  #474824  Sat, 09 Feb 08 11:58 AM Yes, MH. That's exactly how I read it. But strangely enough, most of the books I have which explain—in Japanese—the construction of the stentence say it's adverbial. Really strange...    Taka
Constructions

	MrPedantic  #475391  Sun, 10 Feb 08 09:54 PM I would take the structure as: 1. We learn to use X in order to do Y. rather than 2. We learn to use X that do Y. Best wishes, MrP    MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member (12,053) ...opella forensis / adducit febris...

	Taka  #475631  Mon, 11 Feb 08 01:50 PM MrP, does that mean your #2 is wrong? Or is it literally 'rather-than' to you?    Taka

	MrPedantic  #475830  Mon, 11 Feb 08 10:32 PM Hello Taka, Yes; my #2 is an incorrect interpretation, from my point of view. Cf. 1. We learn how to use gestures and glances to alter or emphasize what we say and do. 2. Glances and gestures are used to alter or emphasize what we say and do. All the best, MrP    MrPedantic

	Taka  #476079  Tue, 12 Feb 08 03:32 PM Hmm...so if I change this sentence, which is in the first post of this thread: (1)Proofreading your writing is a good way to ensure the absence of typing mistakes. infinitive phrase = adjective modifying way into this: I learned a good way to ensure the absence of typing mistakes. do you think the infinitive phrase is adverbial?    Taka
Proofreading

	MrPedantic  #476663  Thu, 14 Feb 08 12:08 AM On reflection, perhaps that should have been "for the purpose of", rather than "in order to": 1. We learn how to use, for the purpose of Y, X. In other words, I would take the phrase "to alter or emphasize what we say and do" as an adverbial phrase that modifies "use", not "learn". (Which is why "To alter or emphasise..., we learn how to use..." isn't a paraphrase!) All the best, MrP    MrPedantic

	CalifJim  #476683  Thu, 14 Feb 08 02:59 AM   I learned a good way to ensure the absence of typing mistakes. do you think the infinitive phrase is adverbial? I don't.  It tells something about the 'way'; it's not the purpose or reason for learning.  You're not going to say  In order to ensure the absence of typing mistakes, I learned a good way.   CJ     CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member (16,978) "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche