Can you show me ?

DavidDave · #1 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2005, 06:51

Are there any diferences between " Everything you have to do is to find them " and " Everything you have to do is to find them " ?
Thank you teacher .

Casiopea · #2 (**permalink**) 09-Jul-2005, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

"Everything you have to do is to find them"
"Everything you have to do is to find them"

David, you've typed in the same sentence.

DavidDave · #3 (**permalink**) 11-Jul-2005, 05:33

Oh, Sorry, but I mean:
Everything you have to do is finding them
Everything you have to do is to find them
Everything you have to do is find them

Can you show me the difference ?
Thanks

Casiopea · #4 (**permalink**) 12-Jul-2005, 06:12

It's the "Everything" that has me stumped. Try,

All you have to do is . . . .

As for the last part, I'd choose "(to) find them".

DavidDave · #5 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2005, 07:11

So what about the others, are they alright ?

**Tdol** · #6 (**permalink**) 13-Jul-2005, 08:28

I don't like the first with 'finding', and I agree with Casiopea about the other two.

Casiopea · #7 (**permalink**) 14-Jul-2005, 07:02

Additionally, in that construction 'is' links two like structures. That's why 'to' occurs twice:

[1] All you have to do is to find them. (to-infinitive is to-infinitive)

As for [2] (see below) the second 'to' is omitted because it's redundant. That is, 'to' has already been stated in 'to do', so the speaker/writer leaves the second 'to' out.

[2] All you have to do is find them. (to-infinitive is infinitive)

All the best,


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