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May 2011

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Subject:
Adjective or adverb?
From:
Stephen King <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 27 May 2011 20:39:37 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
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text/plain (19 lines) 
An embarrassing question: Are the infinitive phrases in the following sentences adjectival or 
adverbial? 

A. We were looking for a good reason to sell the house. 

B. Sparrow needed something to distract the guards. 

In A, the inf. phrase answers the question "why?", which would seem to make it adverbial. However, it 
also answers the question "What kind of reason?", which would seem to make it adjectival. I find B 
similar. 

Gentle enlightenment is requested. 

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