I would call it an infinitive phrase (form) with an adverbial function, modifying the adjective "able." This is a common pattern: happy to see you eager to please ready to go willing to help Don Stewart www.writeforcollege.com www.writing123.com On Fri, Apr 29, 2011 at 6:26 PM, Larry Beason <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Looks like an adverbial phrase modifying 'able'. I suppose one could make > the case it modifies the linking verb 'became'. > > Larry > > Larry Beason > Associate Professor & Composition Director > Dept. of English, 240 HUMB > Univ. of South Alabama > Mobile AL 36688 > (251) 460-7861 > >>> Scott Woods <[log in to unmask]> 04/29/11 4:31 PM >>> > Dear List, > > How would you characterize the function of the underlined infinitive phrase > in > the sentence below? > > > I suddenly became able to improve my basketball game without trying. > > Thanks, > > Scott Woods > > 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/