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October 2013

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Subject:
verb characterization
From:
Scott Woods <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:20:24 -0700
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Dear List,

How would you characterize the verb in the following sentence? What's really going on?
  
      <The children could not have been said to have enjoyed themselves> 

It can be changed to <The children did not enjoy themselves>, but also to <Nobody could have said that the children enjoyed themselves>. The verb has elements of passive and perfect. What is the infinitive phrase doing? 

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Scott Woods

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