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25-Jun-2007, 07:44
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| | When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? May I ask if the using of "to + gerund" is correct in the sentence? "In parallel to this, teachers should be given enough room to establishing a collaborative mechanism under administrative arrangements, so that they can conduct teaching discussions at the same period of time and make plans for the school-based curriculum." And is there any way to test whether the "to" is a preposition or an infinitive in a sentence? | 
25-Jun-2007, 13:43
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| | Re: When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? Quote:
Originally Posted by albertino May I ask if the using of "to + gerund" is correct in the sentence? "In parallel to this, teachers should be given enough room to establishing a collaborative mechanism under administrative arrangements, so that they can conduct teaching discussions at the same period of time and make plans for the school-based curriculum." | Well, to my way of thinking, the sentence with the to used as a preposition is fine as well as it is with the to-infinitive. In parallel to this, teachers should be given enough room to establish (= so that they can establish) a collaborative mechanism under administrative arrangements, so that they can conduct teaching discussions at the same period of time and make plans for the school-based curriculum. In parallel to this, teachers should be given enough room to establishing (= enough room with the possibility of establishing) a collaborative mechanism under administrative arrangements, so that they can conduct teaching discussions at the same period of time and make plans for the school-based curriculum. Quote:
Originally Posted by albertino And is there any way to test whether the "to" is a preposition or an infinitive in a sentence? | You can tell that it's the preposition that is used, not the to-infinitive, because all prepositions take the gerund form of the verb.
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25-Jun-2007, 14:22
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| | Re: When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall Beag No, sorry, that isn't natural English.
Níall
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26-Jun-2007, 03:31
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| | Re: When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall Beag Argh! Why does everyone think it's only Sassenachs that speak the language?
Níall,
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26-Jun-2007, 09:00
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| | Re: When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall Beag Argh! Why does everyone think it's only Sassenachs that speak the language?
Níall,
Proud Scot. | Because they can understand us?    | 
26-Jun-2007, 09:06
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| | Re: When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? Quote:
Originally Posted by engee30 Let me correct myself then - I do believe you, for I am not British!  | Sassenach - English person, British person... It's all the same...  | 
26-Jun-2007, 12:09
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| | Re: When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? Sassenachs ? Do they have anything to do with Anglo-Saxons ?  | 
26-Jun-2007, 12:34
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| | Re: When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? Sassenach is the Scots' term for an English person.  | 
26-Jun-2007, 12:37
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| | Re: When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall Beag No, in that case it should be to establish. I can't explain why, but I'll think about it and get back to you if I can.... | It's in the verb's subcategorization frame: give + someone + something to do. Active: The school should give teachers enough room to do something. Passive: Teachers should be given enough room to do something.
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albertino, there is a way to test whether to functions as a preposition or a particle.
If to is short for towards, it's a preposition: preposition
10 steps to establishing a fund
10 steps towards establish a fund If to is short for in order to, it's a particle: particle
Teachers should be given enough room in order to establish a collaborative mechanism.
Teachers should be given enough room to establish a collaborative mechanism. ______________
engee30, to establishing does indeed work here--at least in my dialect.  ... teachers should be given enough room towards establishing a collaborative mechanism ...
... teachers should be given enough room to establishing a collaborative mechanism ... But given that to is ambiguous in that position; i.e., to(wards); (in order) to, a good writer would have spelt/spelled out the word towards.
In sum, the particle lead infinitive to establish has my vote. | 
26-Jun-2007, 13:23
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| | Re: When "To" is used as a preposition rather than an infinitive? Quote:
Originally Posted by Casiopea engee30, to establishing does indeed work here--at least in my dialect.  ... teachers should be given enough room towards establishing a collaborative mechanism ...
... teachers should be given enough room to establishing a collaborative mechanism ... But given that to is ambiguous in that position; i.e., to(wards); (in order) to, a good writer would have spelt/spelled out the word towards. | That's true. Let me show another two sentences that are similar, yet different to each other, with a little change in meaning (the change that you provided, Casiopea, I guess): Two-way trade with foreign nations is the only really practical way to (= in order to) achieve peace on this earth. Nixon is well on the way to (= towards) achieving a historic reconstruction of the postal service. Quote:
Originally Posted by Casiopea In sum, the particle lead infinitive to establish has my vote.  | I opt for the same.  | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes | Linear Mode |
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