verbs after as well as

[suprunp]

When we put a verb after as well as, we most often use the -ing form.

As well as breaking his leg, he hurt his arm.

After an infinitive in the main clause, an infinitive without to is possible.

I have to feed the animals as well as look after the children.
(Practical English Usage, Michael Swan)

"After an infinitive in the main clause, an infinitive without to is possible."

Does this mean that an infinitive without to in this case is optional?

Thanks.

 

[Afit]

Does this mean that an infinitive without to in this case is optional?

Thanks.

No.

I have to feed the animals as well as look after the children. :tick:
I have to feed the animals as well as to look after the children. :cross:
However,
I have animals to feed as well as the children to look after. :tick: -- two coordinated NP's (not infinitives)

In 'have to', there is no 'to' without 'have'. You cannot elide 'have' because by doing so the modal idiom loses its force of obligation.

 

[suprunp]

Thank you Afit for your reply.

Now, I'll try to narrow the scope of my question.

Does this mean that an infinitive without to in this case is optional?

In other words, is it acceptable to say "I have to feed the animals as well as looking after the children."?

Thanks.

 

[Afit]

I have to feed the animals as well as looking after the children. :tick:

There are two things that you have to do:

1. feed the animals,
2. looking after the children

A bare infinitive is joined to a gerund by the use of the semi-coordinator "as well as".
To achieve symmetry of coordinated elements, I would use the bare inf. form, "look":

I have to feed the animals as well as look after the children. :tick:

 

[suprunp]

May I ask you one small additional question?

Which form should I use in the subordinate clause if I use the subjunctive in the main clause?

He suggests that she get a job in a bank as well as {move/moving}? to his apartment.

Thanks.

 

[Afit]

With subjunctive, same story. :up: "get" is not a bare infinitive; it is a present subjunctive form in singular third person. Finite verb (shows tense). To achieve symmetry, resort to the application of the present subjunctive form of "move" in singular third person -- which is "move" -- is a sure bet. :up:

He suggests that she get a job in a bank as well as move to his apartment.

 

[Barb_D]

I have to feed the animals as well as looking after the children.

No, don't say this!

I have to... look after the chidren.

But even without the "have to" (I feed the animals as well as ... ) then "looking" sounds terrible!

I feed the animals and look after the children.
As well as looking after the children, I feed the animals.
I feed the animals as well as look after the children.

 

[Afit]

I have to... look after the chidren.

She sings as well as playing the piano. :tick: (Swan, PEU)
She ... playing the piano. :cross:

I have to... look after the chidren.

Note that as well as is merely a marginal coordinator. One manifestation is your example.

 

[Barb_D]

I am at a loss to explain Swan's example. I would never say or write that or other sentences in that pattern. I would use "plays" there.

It would be helpful to recruit other native speakers to this thread to see what they think.

 

[5jj]

I am at a loss to explain Swan's example. I would never say or write that or other sentences in that pattern. I would use "plays" there.

It would be helpful to recruit other native speakers to this thread to see what they think.

I am happy with Swann's example, though I would use the reverse order: As well as playing the piano, she sings.

Quirk et al (1985.982) note of what they call quasi-coordinators (as well as, as much as, rather than, more than) :

[...] In other sentences, however,] they clearly have a prepositional role, and have the mobility of adverbials, in that they can be placed in initial or final position [...]

{As well as printing the books, he publishes them.
{He publishes the books, as well as printing them.

 

[Raymott]

I have to feed the animals as well as looking after the children. :tick:

There are two things that you have to do:

1. feed the animals,
2. look[STRIKE]ing[/STRIKE] after the children

I agree that your first sentence sounds OK. It's common enough in AusE. (It might strictly be wrong, and I can understand some people not liking it.)

But making lists like that is wrong. Items in a list should follow the same pattern.

 

[suprunp]

Quirk et al (1985.982) note of what they call quasi-coordinators (as well as, as much as, rather than, more than) :

[...] In other sentences, however,] they clearly have a prepositional role, and have the mobility of adverbials, in that they can be placed in initial or final position [...]

{As well as printing the books, he publishes them.
{He publishes the books, as well as printing them.

In the following examples, the quasi-coordinators do not introduce clauses or noun phrases, and resemble coordinators in that they link 'conjoins' of varying grammatical constituency:

He [publishes] as well as [prints] his own books.

(Quirk et al (1985.982)

Does it mean that I can use either variant?

If this is possible then what my choice should be dependent upon?

Thanks.

 

[Barb_D]

I am happy with Swann's example, though I would use the reverse order: As well as playing the piano, she sings.

Me too. I have no problem with the reverse order. Perhaps it's just what we're used to. I would never, ever use the original order. And maybe it's American English thing, too. I'm pretty sure my editor would look at me as if I had had antlers growing out of my head if I insisted on that order!

 

[5jj]

In the following examples, the quasi-coordinators do not introduce clauses or noun phrases, and resemble coordinators in that they link 'conjoins' of varying grammatical constituency:

He [publishes] as well as [prints] his own books. (Quirk et al (1985.982)

Does it mean that I can use either variant? Yes

If this is possible then what my choice should be dependent upon? What you think sounds best.

The frustrating thing about English for some learners, and the liberating thing for others, is the free choice we often have.

 

[Afit]

I would never say or write that or other sentences in that pattern. .

I must confess to sharing your discomfort at seeing unparallel constructions like that of Swan's.

It would be helpful to recruit other native speakers to this thread to see what they think.

Yes.

 

[Afit]

Quirk et al (1985.982)

Thanks. "as well as" is tricky.

 

[Afit]

But making lists like that is wrong. Items in a list should follow the same pattern.

I agree. Overlooked it.

 

[Barb_D]

As your knowledge of English expands, the quest for what reads well and what communicates your point the best way will supercede your desire to know if someting could be correct or grammatical. (Unless you are engaged in a bet with someone who insists something is not correct -- then we'll help you win your bet!)

There are many grammatical way to say things that are not good style. I confess to being more addicted to parallelism than most people.

Common and natural are more important than possible when your goal is simply to convey ideas. (There are also times when you WANT to draw attention to attention to the nature of the language itself, but in my profession, if someone stops reading to say "What an interesting/odd/unusual way of expressing that thought," I've let my language get in the way of my message.)