to reduce taxes - tree diamgram

[Untaught88]

Hi,

Please check "to reduce taxes".

"To reduce taxes" is a noun phrase.

NP
P -------- V -------------- N
to -------- reduce --------taxes

Or should it be;
NP ------- VP
P --------- V -------------- N
to -------- reduce --------taxes

 

[bubbha]

That depends on whether "to" is an infinitive marker or a preposition meaning "in order to".

 

[Untaught88]

What should it be?

 

[Untaught88]

It's not even a prepositional phrase. But a native English teacher told me that it's a noun phrase.

 

[tzfujimino]

In that little picture in the first post, I can see a sentence:
They will try to reduce taxes.

The "to reduce taxes" is the object of the verb "try" and therefore it's nominal.
So I think we could call it nominal infinitive phrase.


Not a grammarian