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/