I disagree with the analyses offered so far of this sentence:

Mary is trying to improve the condition of her house.

It seems obvious to me that `is trying to improve' is the verb phrase of
which the subject is `Mary' and the object the noun phrase `the condition of
her house'.

Sophie Johnson
at ENGLISH  GRAMMAR TUTOR
http://www.englishgrammartutor.com/
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----- Original Message -----
From: carol kieninger <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2001 3:34 AM
Subject: <no subject>


> How about a response to this sentence:
>
> Mary is trying to improve the condition of her house.
>
> My question is about the infinitive. Is "to improve" acting as the a noun
> and the object of the verb, or is it an adverb?
>
> thanks,
> carol
>
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