Question

Posted by rfvv on Monday, March 5, 2012 at 7:39pm.


Try hard to succeed.

(What is the part of speech of 'to succeed'? Is 'to succeed' the object of the verb 'try'? Or is 'to succeed' the adverbial phrase which modifies 'try'?)
English - Ms. Sue, Monday, March 5, 2012 at 8:47pm
"To succeed" is an infinitive and is used as the object of the verb, "try." It's an object because it answers "what" after the verb.
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Thank you for your help.

1. Wilma tried very hard to succeed as an athlete.

2. Wilma tried very hard so that she might succeed as an athlete.

( If #1 is #2 in meaning, 'tried' is used as an intransitive verb. And 'to succeed as an athlete' is an adverbial phrase which modifies 'tried'. Am I right? In this sentence, is 'tried' a transitive or an intransitive verb?)

Answer 1

Yes, "tried" is intransitive.

"to succeed" is an infinitive, and the infinitive phrase acts adverbially.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrases.htm#infinitive

Answer 2

Thank you...What about the following?

e.g. He tried hard to be able to walk again.

e.g.2 He tried hard so that he was able to walk.

(In this case, is 'tried' an intransitive or a transitive verb?)