Another Grammar Lesson for an Errantist (fwd)

Ian & Pam Dorion dorioni@ipa.net
Wed, 21 Jan 1998 12:05:44 -0600 (00885427544, 199801211807.MAA09543@siren.ipa.net) 



> TILL

> The infinitive is the simple, uninflected form of the verb from which all

> forms of that verb are derived.  In all other languages I have any

knowledge

> of, the infinitive is a single word, but in English the infinitive

consists

> of "to" and the basic form of the verb, such as to eat, to talk, to walk,

to

> sing, etc.  When infinitives are used, they should not be split by any

other

> words (usually adverbs) unless not splitting the infinitive would result

in

> an awkward sentence structure.  If someone said, "I told you to not do

> that," he/she would have unnecessarily split the infinitive "to do."

> Saying, "I told you not to do that," isn't awkward (and to me sounds much

> better) and avoids the splitting of the infinitive.

> 

> Farrell Till

> Skepticism, Inc.

> jftill@midwest.net


IAN
Praise God for Farrill Till and his Engish lessons.