The goal is to study hard.

The goal is to study hard.

1. Is "is" considered a linking verb in this sentence?

2. Would "to study" be an infinitive in this sentence?

3. Is "to study" a predicate adjective? (Which it must be, I'd think, since "hard" is an adverb.)

Thanks,

Donna

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Originally Posted by donnach

The goal is to study hard.

1. Is "is" considered a linking verb in this sentence?

2. Would "to study" be an infinitive in this sentence?

3. Is "to study" a predicate adjective? (Which it must be, I'd think, since "hard" is an adverb.)

Thanks,

Donna

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Hee, hee. I haven`t done this sort of thing for three decades. Let's see what I remember.

1. I agree. Also called copula verb, or is this Spanglish?
2. IMO 'to study' is an infinitive always.
3. I disagree. The subject complement isn't necessarily always an adjective. It can also be a noun or noun phrase. Cf. 'Hedwig was my grandmother'. I'd say 'to study' works as a noun here. A nominal infinitive or some such name?

= Not a teacher. Used to be a student. = :-)

It is still referred to as either a linking verb or copula.

My problem is that I agree with you, Hedwig--infinitive acting as a predicated noun. 'Hard' is an adverb modifying 'to study'. (To study diligently, faithfully, hard...)

But 'hard' can't be an adverb because 'to study' is a predicate noun. So.....? What's 'hard', then?

Maybe it's some sort of verb phrase modifier? Maybe it can modify separately the verb--only 'study' vs. the entire infinitive 'to study' that's acting as a noun complement...

And it's rather depressing to me that you're pulling the info. out of your brain from 30 years ago when it's likely I've asked this question (maybe even on this same message board) or at least one quite similar to it within the past three years. ;-)

But even though 'to study' is acting as a noun it is still a verb, so perhaps it's OK for an adverb to modify it.
We need a teacher here. :-? Or The Parser, perhaps, since he seems to be fond of this sort of exercises.

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Originally Posted by Hedwig

But even though 'to study' is acting as a noun it is still a verb, so perhaps it's OK for an adverb to modify it.
We need a teacher here

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Will a retarded retired one do? However it functions,"(to) study" is still an infinitive, a verb, and can be modified by an adverb.

The same is true for a gerund - Studying hard is essential if you want to get good marks.

Fivejayjay, you rock!

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Originally Posted by Hedwig

Fivejayjay, you rock!

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:crazyeye:. But I keep taking the tablets.

"...to study hard..."

is an infinitive phrase acting as the predicate nominative.

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Originally Posted by Frank Antonson

"...to study hard..."

is an infinitive phrase acting as the predicate nominative.

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Goody! What we (more or less) suspected is now properly labelled.
Thanks, Frank. :up:

Yes, goody. :)

I completely forgot about infinitive phrases.