Verbals That Function as Adverbs
(#2)
1. I could not wait to come [#1] back tomorrow and learn something new [#1]. | 2. I gathered all my courage (DO) to sit [#2] down and lock the seat belt [#2]. | 3. I looked down to see [#3] almost invisible steel wires holding us [#3] up. | 4. One morning [NuA] I went over {to the counter} to get some grub to eat [#4]. | 5. I gave the money (DO) {to my mom} to hold it [#5] {for me}. | 6. I would usually take off the roof (DO) to see my cute little hamster sleeping [#6] {in the maze}. | Notes 2. "To sit" and "lock" are verbals (infinitives) that function as adverbs (of purpose) to "gathered." "Belt" is the direct object of "lock." 3. "Us" is the direct object of the verbal (gerundive) "holding." "Holding" modifies "wires" which is the direct object of the verbal (infinitive) "to see." "To see" functions as an adverb (of result) to "looked." 4. The verbal (infinitive) "to eat" functions as an adjective to "grub." "Grub" is the direct object of the verbal (infinitive) "to get" which functions as an adverb (of purpose) to "went." 5. "It" is the direct object of the verbal (infinitive) "to hold" which functions as an adverb (of purpose) to "gave." (The "it" is interesting here because most adults would probably ellipse it in this context. Its presence probably suggests a stage of syntactic development.) 6. "Sleeping" is a verbal (a gerundive) that modifies "hamster." "Hamster" is the direct object of the verbal (infinitive) "to see" The "to see" phrase functions as an adverb (of purpose) to "take off." |