I agree with Clint in that the "reduced clause" of attempt is adverbial in nature and justificatory, i.e., used by the author to give a reason for saying what he did. As Craig pointed out, however, the infinitive phrase complements the noun attempt. Bruce >>> "Atchley, Clinton" <[log in to unmask]> 10/04/07 8:43 AM >>> I’d say that the infinitive is being used absolutely as a sentence modifier. The preceding substantive attempt functions as a nominative absolute. Hence is a conjunctive or transitional adverb. Just my two cents. Best, Clint Clinton Atchley, Ph.D. Associate Professor of English Box 7652 1100 Henderson Street Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR 71999 Phone: 870.230.5276 Email: [log in to unmask] Web: http://www.hsu.edu/atchlec From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nancy Tuten Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 8:22 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: What Is This? I’ll venture a guess: a prepositional phrase, with “hence” serving as the preposition, “attempt” as the object, and “to focus on mainstream institutions” as an adjectival infinitive phrase modifying “attempt.” But how does the prepositional phrase (if that’s what it is) function? Is it adverbial, modifying the verb “has” in the main clause? I’m going to print out our discussion and share it with my advanced grammar class—all English majors, some of whom have already discovered the joy of such discussions—the next generation of ATEGers. Nancy From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Crow Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 4:09 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: What Is This? In a very well-supported response to Nancy's inquiry about Master's Degree, Bill wrote the following sentence: Part of the dynamic has to do with who is using which version, hence my attempt to focus on "mainstream" institutions (emphasis added). I find the sentence perfectly well formed, but I cannot figure out what the underlined part is. Any ideas? John 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/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.