I agree with Katherine and Don: inf. phrase used as an adverbial, in fact a restrictive one in that "able" has no sense without the phrase. On Friday 04/29/2011 at 5:47 pm, Don Stewart wrote: > 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/ 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/