Scott,
I should like to add that the adverbial function of the infinitive with "able" may be seen as a periphrastic version of "can" so that
I could suddenly improve my basketball game without trying.
is nearly synonymous. For some reason this version seems stronger and more direct. I wonder what the "became able to" has to recommend it.
Bruce
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From: "T. J. Ray" <
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To:
[log in to unmask]Subject: Re: grammar question--function of an infinitive phrase
Date: Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:54:13 -0500
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
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