I have a bit of trouble considering the comma marked version an appositive
since I don't feel "To leave my job, my decision," is equivalent to "My
decision, to leave my job . . ."


Shouldn't that be: comma-marked version?  Isn't "comma marked" a compound
adjective?

Charles

[log in to unmask]





----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 3:34 PM
Subject: Re: Infinitive phrase as adjective and as appositive


> ** Reply to note from Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
<[log in to unmask]>         Mon, 4 Jun 2001 14:27:23 -0500
>
> Here's another take on those pesky infinitives:
>
> My decision which was for me to leave my job was a wise one.
>
> My decision, which was for me to leave my job, was a wise one.
>
> As you can see, I'm understanding these infinites as relative
constructions which can
> then be reduced (ellipts again, Michael) by (1) wh/be deletion and the
for-to
> transformation. We end up with
>
> my decision, to leave my job, was a wise one.
> My decision to leave my job was a wise one.
>
> I have a bit of trouble considering the comma marked version an appositive
since I
> don't feel "To leave my job, my decision," is equivalent to "My decision,
to leave my
> job . . ." The first sounds like something a person would say when trying
to make it
> clear he or she was not fired. The second does not carry that sense.
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________
> David E. Sawyer, PhD
> Chair, Department of English
> North Hennepin Community College
> Treasurer, Assembly For the Teaching of English Grammar
> [log in to unmask]
> [O](763) 424-0832; [H](612) 929-3713
>
> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface
at:
>      http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
> and select "Join or leave the list"
>
> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/

To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/