No one has ever accused writers of computer manuals or directives of being
literate. On occasion, literate people write on computer topics; however,
they are exceptions to the rule.
I impolitely on occasion read computer manuals just for amusement and wonder
what was the native language of the writer before the work underwent machine
translation.
Scott Catledge
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
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Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 12:01 AM
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There are 4 messages totalling 917 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. OBSERVE + complement infinitive (4)
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2013 11:24:04 -0500
From: Dick Veit <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: OBSERVE + complement infinitive
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Some verbs can take both a complement clause and a complement infinitive:
We expected that our dog would like prosciutto.
We expected our dog to like prosciutto.
Other verbs can take a complement clause but not a complement infinitive:
We denied that our dog disdains prosciutto.
*We denied our dog to disdain prosciutto.
I had assumed =93observe=94 to be in the latter category; for example, I
wouldn=92t say, =93I observed my dog to like prosciutto.=94 So I was surpr=
ised by the following sentence in an update notice for an iPad app:
We have observed this issue to prevent you from logging into the app and to
cause some instances of error 108 when attempting playback.
I first attempted to read it as an adverbial infinitive along these lines:
We have gone to the trouble of observing this issue in order to prevent you
from =85
After puzzling it out, of course, I realized they meant it as a complement.=
So my question is this:
Is the use of OBSERVE + complement infinitive: (a) in relatively widespread
use in contemporary colloquial English; (b) in widespread use in tech-speak
but not in colloquial English; or (c) merely a singularity in the quoted
sentence?
Dick
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<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Some verbs can take both a complement clause and a
complement infinitive: <br></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:0.5in">We expected that our dog=
would like prosciutto.<br> We expected our dog to like prosciutto.</p><p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"= margin-left:.5in"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Other verbs can take a complement clause but not a
complement infinitive:</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We denied that our dog di=
sdains prosciutto.<br> *We denied our dog to disdain prosciutto.</p><p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style= =3D"margin-left:.5in"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">I had assumed =93observe=94 to be in the latter cate=
gory; for example, I wouldn=92t say, =93I observed my dog to like
prosciutto.=94 <spa=
n>=A0</span>So I was surprised by the following sentence in
an update notice for an iPad app:</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We have observed this iss=
ue to prevent you from logging into the app and to cause some instances of
error =
108
when attempting playback.</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5=
in"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">I first attempted to read it as an adverbial infinit=
ive along these lines:</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We have gone to the troub=
le of observing this issue in order to prevent you from =85</p><p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style= =3D"margin-left:.5in"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">After puzzling it out, of course, I realized they me=
ant it as a complement.<span> </span>So my question is this:</p><p
class=3D"MsoNor= mal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Is the use of OBSERVE + complement infinitive:<span>=
=A0 </span>(a) in relatively widespread use in contemporary colloquial
English; (b) in widespread use in tech-speak but not in colloqui= al
English; or (c) merely a singularity in the quoted sentence?</p><p class=3D=
"MsoNormal"><br></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Dick<br></p> To join or leave
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<p>
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--14dae9340c21424b3904d707abf9--
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2013 18:32:24 +0000
From: "Hancock, Craig G" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: OBSERVE + complement infinitive
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Dick,
I think it's an anomaly, though I admit I'm not immersed in tech talk.
To me, the problem starts with selecting "issue" as subject (perhaps im=
plied) to the verb "prevent." Presumably, whatever it is is an issue becaus=
e it causes problems, not the reverse, but that may be clearer in context. =
"I have observed this glitch (to) prevent people from logging on..." As i s=
uggest with parentheses around 'to,' I think it would read better without i=
t, somewhat echoing the grammar for other perception verbs: "I saw the glit=
ch prevent some people from logging on." "I have watched alcohol ruin my ne=
ighbor's life." "I heard the plane land in a nearby field."
When you have more than one awkwardness in a sentence, it's easier to d=
ismiss the judgment of the writer.
Craig
________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]
U] on behalf of Dick Veit [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2013 11:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: OBSERVE + complement infinitive
Some verbs can take both a complement clause and a complement infinitive:
We expected that our dog would like prosciutto.
We expected our dog to like prosciutto.
Other verbs can take a complement clause but not a complement infinitive:
We denied that our dog disdains prosciutto.
*We denied our dog to disdain prosciutto.
I had assumed =93observe=94 to be in the latter category; for example, I wo=
uldn=92t say, =93I observed my dog to like prosciutto.=94 So I was surpris=
ed by the following sentence in an update notice for an iPad app:
We have observed this issue to prevent you from logging into the app and to=
cause some instances of error 108 when attempting playback.
I first attempted to read it as an adverbial infinitive along these lines:
We have gone to the trouble of observing this issue in order to prevent you=
from =85
After puzzling it out, of course, I realized they meant it as a complement.=
So my question is this:
Is the use of OBSERVE + complement infinitive: (a) in relatively widesprea=
d use in contemporary colloquial English; (b) in widespread use in tech-spe=
ak but not in colloquial English; or (c) merely a singularity in the quoted=
sentence?
Dick
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
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252"> <style type=3D"text/css" id=3D"owaParaStyle"><!----></style>
</head>
<body fpstyle=3D"1" ocsi=3D"0">
<div style=3D"direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color: #000000;font-size: =
10pt;">Dick, <div> I think it's an anomaly, though I admit I'm
not immersed= in tech talk.</div> <div> To me, the problem
starts with selecting "issue&quo= t; as subject (perhaps implied) to
the verb "prevent." Presumably= , whatever it is is an issue
because it causes problems, not the reverse, b= ut that may be clearer in
context. "I have observed this glitch
(to) prevent people from logging on..." As i suggest with parentheses=
around 'to,' I think it would read better without it, somewhat echoing the=
grammar for other perception verbs: "I saw the glitch prevent some pe=
ople from logging on." "I have watched alcohol ruin my neighbor's
life." "I heard the plane land in a nearby fi=
eld." </div> <div> When you have more than one
awkwardness in a sentence, i= t's easier to dismiss the judgment of the
writer.</div> <div><br> </div> <div>Craig<br> <div style=3D"font-family:
Times New Roman; color: #000000; font-size: 16px= "> <hr tabindex=3D"-1">
<div id=3D"divRpF433409" style=3D"direction: ltr;"><font face=3D"Tahoma" si=
ze=3D"2" color=3D"#000000"><b>From:</b> Assembly for the Teaching of Englis=
h Grammar [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Dick Veit [dickveit@GMAIL=
.COM]<br> <b>Sent:</b> Sunday, March 03, 2013 11:24 AM<br> <b>To:</b>
[log in to unmask]<br> <b>Subject:</b> OBSERVE + complement
infinitive<br> </font><br> </div> <div></div> <div> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal">Some verbs can take both a complement clause and a c=
omplement infinitive:
<br>
</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br>
</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:0.5in">We expected that our dog=
would like prosciutto.<br> We expected our dog to like prosciutto.</p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal">Other verbs can take a complement clause but not a c=
omplement infinitive:</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We denied that our dog di=
sdains prosciutto.<br> *We denied our dog to disdain prosciutto.</p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal">I had assumed =93observe=94 to be in the latter cate=
gory; for example, I wouldn=92t say, =93I observed my dog to like prosciutt=
o.=94
<span> </span>So I was surprised by the following sentence in an updat=
e notice for an iPad app:</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We have observed this iss= ue
to prevent you from logging into the app and to cause some instances of =
error 108 when attempting playback.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"
style=3D"margin-left:.5in"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">I first
attempted to read it as an adverbial infinit= ive along these lines:</p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"
style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We have gone to the troub= le of observing this
issue in order to prevent you from =85</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"
style=3D"margin-left:.5in"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">After puzzling
it out, of course, I realized they me= ant it as a complement.<span>
</span>So my question is this:</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal">Is the use of OBSERVE + complement infinitive:<s=
pan> </span>
(a) in relatively widespread use in contemporary colloquial English; (b) in=
widespread use in tech-speak but not in colloquial English; or (c) merely =
a singularity in the quoted sentence?</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Dick<br> </p> 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" <p>Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ </p>
</div> </div> </div> </div> </body> </html> To join or leave this LISTSERV
list, please visit the list's web interface at:
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------------------------------
Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2013 11:49:18 -0700
From: "Peter H. Fries" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: OBSERVE + complement infinitive
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Re:
We have observed this issue to prevent you from logging into the app and to
cause some instances of error 108 when attempting playback.
Dick, My immediate take on this example was like yours. However, I looked in
my copy of John Sinclair (ed.) 1996. *The Collins Cobuild Grammar Patters 1:
Verbs, *Harper Collins, p 296, and found* observe *listed among verbs that
appear in the V n to-inf pattern =96but with the note =93only in= the
passive=94.* *This book and the second volume are based on exhaustive
searches of the Bank of English which at the time they were preparing theses
books stood at 250 million words. so inclusion in this list implies that
observe is found in the V n to-inf pattern (in the passive) sufficiently
frequently to meet their criteria for inclusion.
The passive version of your example doesn't sound TOO bad to my ears, so I
suspect that this example is more an extension of a known pattern rather
than a new creation de novo. In fact I wonder if this wording is not the fi=
rst version of this sentence, but rather a result of editing to fit the
purposesof the larger text segment. For example someone might have thought
that *this issue has been observed to =85* was too impersonal. If my hunch
is anywhere near true the authors certainly missed--at least for you and for
me.
Peter
On Sun, Mar 3, 2013 at 9:24 AM, Dick Veit <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Some verbs can take both a complement clause and a complement infinitive:
>
>
> We expected that our dog would like prosciutto.
> We expected our dog to like prosciutto.
>
>
> Other verbs can take a complement clause but not a complement infinitive:
>
>
> We denied that our dog disdains prosciutto.
> *We denied our dog to disdain prosciutto.
>
>
> I had assumed =93observe=94 to be in the latter category; for example,
> I wouldn=92t say, =93I observed my dog to like prosciutto.=94 So I
> was sur=
prised
> by the following sentence in an update notice for an iPad app:
>
>
> We have observed this issue to prevent you from logging into the app
> and to cause some instances of error 108 when attempting playback.
>
>
> I first attempted to read it as an adverbial infinitive along these
> lines=
:
>
>
> We have gone to the trouble of observing this issue in order to
> prevent you from =85
>
>
> After puzzling it out, of course, I realized they meant it as a
> complemen=
t. So
> my question is this:
>
>
> Is the use of OBSERVE + complement infinitive: (a) in relatively
> widespread use in contemporary colloquial English; (b) in widespread
> use =
in
> tech-speak but not in colloquial English; or (c) merely a singularity
> in the quoted sentence?
>
>
> Dick
> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
> interfac=
e
> at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or
> leave the list"
>
> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/
>
--=20
Peter H. Fries
From mid May 2012
Box 310
Mount Pleasant MI 48804
Phone: 989-644-3384
Cell: 989-400-3764
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web page: <http://cmich.edu/chsbs/x23516.xml<http://cmich.edu/chsbs/x23516=
.xml>>
[among 'emeritus faculty']
From early December 2012 to late April 2013
5751 N. Kolb Rd.
Unit 28-102
Tucson AZ 85750
phone: 520-329-8420
cell: 989-400-3764
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<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><a name=3D"_GoBack"></a>Re:</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">We have observed this issue to prevent you from logg=
ing into the app and to cause some instances of error 108 when attempting
playback.<= /p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">=C2=A0</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"4">Dick, My immediate take on this exa=
mple was like yours.
However, I looked in my copy of John Sinclair (ed.) 1996. <i>The Collins Co=
build Grammar Patters 1: Verbs, </i>Harper Collins<font size=3D"4">, p 296,=
</font>and found<i> observe </i>listed among verbs that appear in the V n
to-inf pattern =E2=80=93but with the note =E2=80=9Conly in the p=
assive=E2=80=9D.<i> </i>This book and <font size=3D"4">the</font> second vo=
lume are based on exhaustive searches of the Bank of English which at the
time they = were preparing theses books stood at 250 million words. so
inclusion in this lis= t implies that observe <span>=C2=A0</span>is found in
the V n to-inf pattern (in the passive) sufficiently frequently to meet
their crite= ria for inclusion.</font></p><font size=3D"4">
</font><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"4">The passive version of your =
example doesn't sound TOO bad to my ears, so I suspect that this example
is more an extension of a known pat= tern rather than a new creation de
novo. In fact I wonder if this wording is not= the f<font
size=3D"4">i</font>rst version of this sentence, but rather a result of
editing to fit the <font size=3D"4">purposes</font> of the larger= text
segment. For example someone might have thought that <i>this issue ha= s
been observed to =E2=80=A6</i> was too impersonal. If <font size=3D"4">my
hunch is anywhere near true the auth= ors certainly missed<font
size=3D"4">--at least<font size=3D"4"> fo</font>r= you an<font size=3D"4">d
for me.</font></font></font><br></font></p><font = size=3D"4">
</font><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"4">Peter</font></p>
<br><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Sun, Mar 3, 2013 at 9:24 AM, Dick Vei=
t <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]" target=3D"_bl=
ank">[log in to unmask]</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"gmail=
_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:=
1ex"> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">Some verbs can take both a complement clause
and a complement infinitive: <br></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:0.5in">We expected that our dog=
would like prosciutto.<br> We expected our dog to like prosciutto.</p><p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"= margin-left:.5in"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Other verbs can take a complement clause but not a
complement infinitive:</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We denied that our dog di=
sdains prosciutto.<br> *We denied our dog to disdain prosciutto.</p><p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style= =3D"margin-left:.5in"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">I had assumed =E2=80=9Cobserve=E2=80=9D to be in the=
latter category; for example, I wouldn=E2=80=99t say, =E2=80=9CI observed my
dog to like prosciu= tto.=E2=80=9D <span>=C2=A0</span>So I was surprised by
the following senten= ce in an update notice for an iPad app:</p><p
class=3D"MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We have observed this iss=
ue to prevent you from logging into the app and to cause some instances of
error =
108
when attempting playback.</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5=
in"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">I first attempted to read it as an adverbial infinit=
ive along these lines:</p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We have gone to the troub=
le of observing this issue in order to prevent you from =E2=80=A6</p><p
class=3D"MsoNormal"= style=3D"margin-left:.5in"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">After puzzling it out, of course, I realized they me=
ant it as a complement.<span> </span>So my question is this:</p><p
class=3D"MsoNor= mal"><br></p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Is the use of OBSERVE + complement infinitive:<span>=
=C2=A0 </span>(a) in relatively widespread use in contemporary colloquial
English; (b) in widespread use in tech-speak but not in colloqui= al
English; or (c) merely a singularity in the quoted sentence?</p><p class=3D=
"MsoNormal"><br></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal">Dick<br></p> To join or leave
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</p></blockquote></div><br><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br>Peter H. Fries<br><=
br>From mid May 2012<br>Box 310 <br>Mount Pleasant MI
br>48804<br><br>Phone:=
=C2=A0 989-644-3384<br>Cell:=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 989-400-3764 <br><br>Email=
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0%;font-family:"Times New Roman"">[among 'emeritus faculty=
9;]</span> <br><br>From early December 2012 to late April 2013<br>
<p style=3D"margin-top:0in;line-height:normal"><span>=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=
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normal">phone: 520-329-8420</p><p style=3D"margin-top:0in;line-height:norma=
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--f46d042c64b9aa8b6b04d709b29a--
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2013 04:56:11 +0000
From: "Stahlke, Herbert" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: OBSERVE + complement infinitive
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I don't know that I've heard "observe" + complement infinitive, but there's=
a toilet paper add on TV currently in which a bear cub says, "We all go, s=
o why not enjoy to go." I've heard "enjoy" + infinitive before from colleg=
e students, but it's not a part of my English. Is it, as it appears to me,=
a generational change? In my variety of English, the infinitive cooccurs =
more consistently in non-assertive clauses. This appears to be changing.
Herb
Herbert F. W. Stahlke, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN 47306
[log in to unmask]
________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]
U] on behalf of Dick Veit [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, March 03, 2013 11:24 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: OBSERVE + complement infinitive
Some verbs can take both a complement clause and a complement infinitive:
We expected that our dog would like prosciutto.
We expected our dog to like prosciutto.
Other verbs can take a complement clause but not a complement infinitive:
We denied that our dog disdains prosciutto.
*We denied our dog to disdain prosciutto.
I had assumed =93observe=94 to be in the latter category; for example, I wo=
uldn=92t say, =93I observed my dog to like prosciutto.=94 So I was surpris=
ed by the following sentence in an update notice for an iPad app:
We have observed this issue to prevent you from logging into the app and to=
cause some instances of error 108 when attempting playback.
I first attempted to read it as an adverbial infinitive along these lines:
We have gone to the trouble of observing this issue in order to prevent you=
from =85
After puzzling it out, of course, I realized they meant it as a complement.=
So my question is this:
Is the use of OBSERVE + complement infinitive: (a) in relatively widesprea=
d use in contemporary colloquial English; (b) in widespread use in tech-spe=
ak but not in colloquial English; or (c) merely a singularity in the quoted=
sentence?
Dick
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=
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To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface
at:
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--_000_700A1F8C8A177945B3FF7C2CA226F89333DE1BBESN2PRD0510MB358_
Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
<html dir=3D"ltr">
<head>
<meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3DWindows-1=
252"> <style id=3D"owaParaStyle" type=3D"text/css"><!--P
{margin-top:0;margin-bot= tom:0;}--></style> </head> <body ocsi=3D"0"
fpstyle=3D"1"> <div style=3D"direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color:
#000000;font-size: = 10pt;">I don't know that I've heard "observe"
+ complement in= finitive, but there's a toilet paper add on TV
currently in which a bear cu= b says, "We all go, so why not enjoy to
go." I've heard "enjoy" + infinitive before from
college students, but= it's not a part of my English. Is it, as it
appears to me, a generat= ional change? In my variety of English, the
infinitive cooccurs more = consistently in non-assertive clauses. This
appears to be changing.<br> <br> Herb <br> <div><br> <div
class=3D"BodyFragment"><font size=3D"2"> <div class=3D"PlainText">Herbert F.
W. Stahlke, Ph.D.<br> Emeritus Professor of English<br> Ball State
University<br> Muncie, IN 47306<br> [log in to unmask]</div>
</font></div> </div> <div style=3D"font-family: Times New Roman; color:
#000000; font-size: 16px= "> <hr tabindex=3D"-1"> <div style=3D"direction:
ltr;" id=3D"divRpF803938"><font color=3D"#000000" = size=3D"2"
face=3D"Tahoma"><b>From:</b> Assembly for the Teaching of Englis= h Grammar
[[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Dick Veit [dickveit@GMAIL= .COM]<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, March 03, 2013 11:24 AM<br> <b>To:</b>
[log in to unmask]<br> <b>Subject:</b> OBSERVE + complement
infinitive<br> </font><br> </div> <div></div> <div> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal">Some verbs can take both a complement clause and a c=
omplement infinitive:
<br>
</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br>
</p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:0.5in">We expected that our dog=
would like prosciutto.<br> We expected our dog to like prosciutto.</p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal">Other verbs can take a complement clause but not a c=
omplement infinitive:</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We denied that our dog di=
sdains prosciutto.<br> *We denied our dog to disdain prosciutto.</p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal">I had assumed =93observe=94 to be in the latter cate=
gory; for example, I wouldn=92t say, =93I observed my dog to like prosciutt=
o.=94
<span> </span>So I was surprised by the following sentence in an updat=
e notice for an iPad app:</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We have observed this iss= ue
to prevent you from logging into the app and to cause some instances of =
error 108 when attempting playback.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"
style=3D"margin-left:.5in"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">I first
attempted to read it as an adverbial infinit= ive along these lines:</p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"
style=3D"margin-left:.5in">We have gone to the troub= le of observing this
issue in order to prevent you from =85</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"
style=3D"margin-left:.5in"><br> </p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal">After puzzling
it out, of course, I realized they me= ant it as a complement.<span>
</span>So my question is this:</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p> <p
class=3D"MsoNormal">Is the use of OBSERVE + complement infinitive:<s=
pan> </span>
(a) in relatively widespread use in contemporary colloquial English; (b) in=
widespread use in tech-speak but not in colloquial English; or (c) merely =
a singularity in the quoted sentence?</p> <p class=3D"MsoNormal"><br> </p>
<p class=3D"MsoNormal">Dick<br> </p> 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" <p>Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ </p>
</div> </div> </div> </body> </html> To join or leave this LISTSERV list,
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<p>
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--_000_700A1F8C8A177945B3FF7C2CA226F89333DE1BBESN2PRD0510MB358_--
------------------------------
End of ATEG Digest - 2 Mar 2013 to 3 Mar 2013 (#2013-19)
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