Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar


Reduced infinitives

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old March 09, 2018, 08:32 AM
ROBINDESBOIS's Avatar
ROBINDESBOIS ROBINDESBOIS is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,040
ROBINDESBOIS is on a distinguished road
Reduced infinitives

I have a question concerning grammar:
Browsing a bunch of exercises the other day I run into one on Reduced infinitives and sth attracted my attention. I had to find to sentences in which the use of the reduced infinitive wasn't possible and I had to explain why. In mu opinion these two were the sentences. Can anybody check them out for me and tell me why?

I´m not surprised he was angry,
But he was much angrier ___________ (expect)

Was John surprised when he won?
Of course he was. He _____________(expect)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old March 09, 2018, 09:22 AM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
I agree that a reduced infinitive would not be possible in either blank.
It's rather obvious that no infinitive, bare, full or reduced, can be used. The verb 'expect' must be conjugated in the past tense (and cannot stand alone).
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old March 09, 2018, 09:34 AM
ROBINDESBOIS's Avatar
ROBINDESBOIS ROBINDESBOIS is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,040
ROBINDESBOIS is on a distinguished road
Does the same applies to Used to?

Is this correct?
You'll be able to enjoy yourself when the exam finishes.
That's what I´ll intend to.

Last edited by AngelicaDeAlquezar; March 09, 2018 at 06:47 PM. Reason: Merged back-to-back posts
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old March 09, 2018, 11:24 AM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS View Post
Is this correct?
You'll be able to enjoy yourself when the exam finishes.
That's what I´ll intend to.
No. That sounds off. What you can say is: You'll be able to enjoy yourself when the exam is completed, or when the exam is over. or when the exam is done. That's what I (not I'll) intend to do.
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.

Last edited by poli; March 09, 2018 at 11:38 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old March 09, 2018, 01:23 PM
ROBINDESBOIS's Avatar
ROBINDESBOIS ROBINDESBOIS is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,040
ROBINDESBOIS is on a distinguished road
No, but in the book , in the exercise it says:
You'll be able to enjoy yourself when the exams finish.
That's what ___________________(intend)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
I agree that a reduced infinitive would not be possible in either blank.
It's rather obvious that no infinitive, bare, full or reduced, can be used. The verb 'expect' must be conjugated in the past tense (and cannot stand alone).
<Is it the verb expect or be?

Last edited by AngelicaDeAlquezar; March 09, 2018 at 06:49 PM. Reason: Merged back-to-back posts
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old March 09, 2018, 03:12 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
I have the notion that 'expect' is expected in the blank.
... much angrier than expected.
... He didn't expect it. (-or- He didn't expect to (win).)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old March 10, 2018, 02:12 AM
ROBINDESBOIS's Avatar
ROBINDESBOIS ROBINDESBOIS is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,040
ROBINDESBOIS is on a distinguished road
Well, according to what I ve observed, I think it has to do with the verb to be that cannot be left out.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old March 10, 2018, 07:00 AM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
I don't see how 'to be' can be inserted in the sentences, when it looks like 'expect' needs to appear in the answers.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old March 10, 2018, 10:42 AM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
Maybe the book exercise needed replies like: "But he was much angrier than he was expected to" and "He wasn't expected to".
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old March 10, 2018, 12:38 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
The exercise was to find two sentences that could not possibly have a reduced infinitive in the blank. It looks like some form of 'expect' is supposed to appear in the blank found in the two proposals (else 'expect' wouldn't appear in parentheses).

I gave some possible responses. I believe it's possible to use a reduced infinitive in the second sentence that the OP chose (just saying 'to', instead of 'to win'), but it's not possible to use a reduced infinitive in the first sentence. Angelica's proposal can't be used. In this case, the sentence must end with the infinitive 'be'.

@Robin: Look elsewhere in the exercise for a sentence that cannot end with the particle 'to'.
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Useful phrases using verbs + infinitives literacola Grammar 7 February 10, 2009 12:13 AM
Two infinitives together? Never? literacola Grammar 14 December 06, 2008 03:13 PM
verb infinitives pogo Grammar 5 June 17, 2007 08:55 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:44 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X