[Grammar] The value of the currency fell,

[Mike MC]

Is the following multiple-choice question valid?

The value of the currency fell, _____ foreign holidays more expensive.
a. being made
b. to make
c. making
d. to have made

Both b and c seem to correctly express the result of the main clause. I wonder what you think.

 

[GoesStation]

Only C is possible.

 

[Mike MC]

Only C is possible.

Can't we use an infinitive to express a result?
Example 1: Laura came home to find her house on fire.
Example 2: I tore open the box, only to discover that some of the parts were missing.

 

[GoesStation]

Can't we use an infinitive to express a result?

Yes, in the right context.

 

[emsr2d2]

Can't we use an infinitive to express a result?
Example 1: Laura came home to find her house on fire.

That doesn't express a result. The house wasn't on fire because she came home.

 

[Mike MC]

That doesn't express a result. The house wasn't on fire because she came home.

Here's the reference:

We can sometimes use a to-infinitive clause to express the outcome of an action or process.
Laura came home to find her house on fire.
The prince grew up to be a handsome young man.

John Eastwood, Oxford Learner's Grammar, page 136

P.S. I don't see why he calls them clauses. Aren't they actually phrases?

 

[GoesStation]

Laura came home to find her house on fire.

The house being on fire is certainly not the outcome of her coming home.

No, but finding it so could be considered to be an outcome of coming home.

 

[Mike MC]

Laura came home to find her house on fire.

The house being on fire is certainly not the outcome of her coming home.

How about my original example: Isn't the increase in the price of foreign holidays the result of the decrease in the currency value?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

How about my original example: Isn't the increase in the price of foreign holidays the result of the decrease in the currency value?

Yes. That's why C is the only correct answer.

B means that the reason the value fell was to make holidays more expensive. It means the value intended to make holidays more expensive. It means the value fell in order to make holidays expensive.

It answers the question: Why did the value increase? Answer: To make holidays expensive.

But values don't have reasons or intentions. They don't make decisions. They don't have brains. They just exist. The value didn't decide to rise.

That's why B doesn't make sense.

 

[Mike MC]

But values don't have reasons or intentions. They don't make decisions. They don't have brains. They just exist. The value didn't decide to rise.

I know that. And I'm not talking about the infinitive of purpose. I meant the infinitive of result, as you see in the examples.

 

[Tarheel]

Charlie is right. The correct answer is c.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I know that. And I'm not talking about the infinitive of purpose. I meant the infinitive of result, as you see in the examples.

Then do you see now why C is right and B is wrong?

 

[Mike MC]

Then do you see now why C is right and B is wrong?

Not really. Sorry to disappoint you!

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Not really. Sorry to disappoint you!

Okay. Lookit. I'm not talking about types of infinitives. Just think about this: Did the value want to increase? Can a value want things? Do values have feelings or emotions? Do they care about anything?