I agree with Wanda's interpretation.  

This sort of clause is also what's known as an infinitival relative
clause, one of the more puzzling structures in English.  We have a
relative clause without a subject and one that unlike most relative
clauses does not contain a declarative sentence.  Instead, the verb is
in the infinitive.  It's actually a fairly frequent construction, often
with a zero relative marker, as in 

A university is an odd place (in which) to work.  

Functionally, I suspect, the reason for the infinitive instead of the
declarative clause is that while the propositional content of relative
clauses is normally presupposed to be true, in cases like these the
clause doesn't have truth value.  That is, the propositional content of
the clause cannot be said to be true or false.  Rather, as so often with
infinitive constructions, it's irrealis, or unfulfilled.

Herb

 

________________________________

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of WANDA VANGOOR
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 8:45 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: function of infinitive phrase

 

Jeanne--

 

Isn't it an adjective modifying "which"?  The "which" refers back to
"one" and so eventually to "place" in my reading of the sentence.

 

Wanda Van Goor
Professor
English Department
Prince George's Community College
301 Largo Road
Largo, MD  20774-2199

 

M3064--Telephone 301-322-0603
301-322-0549
Email:  [log in to unmask]

>>> [log in to unmask] 04/04/06 8:29 PM >>>

Can someone help me determine the function of the infinitive phrase in
this sentence about Las Vegas from Joan Didion's book Slouching Towards
Bethlehem?

All of which makes it an extraordinarily stimulating and interesting
place, but an odd one in which to want to wear a candlelight satin
Priscilla of Boston wedding dress with Chantilly lace insets, tapered
sleeves and a detachable modified train.

Jeanne Rodgers

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/

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/