Khin Cho T.

asked • 09/15/23

She says the word repeatedly as if to memorize it.Is "to memorize it" a clause?If it's a clause,why doesn't it have a subject?

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Merritt M. answered • 09/16/23

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In this case, "to memorize it" is a prepositional phrase. "She" is the subject of the sentence.

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Khin Cho T.

Thanks for your answer.
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09/17/23

Khin Cho T.

I hope you can answer this question if you don't mind.Isn't as if a conjunction that connects two clauses?So why is "to memorize it" a phrase?
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09/17/23

Edward H.

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The preposition "to" is used in phrases like "to the store". Using "to" in phrases like "to memorize" is an infinitive form. "to (verb)" Infinitives are used when the verb is not happening within the time of the sentence. Consider, "I want to memorize facts for history class". What is happening in the sentence is wanting. "to memorize" is what you want. verbs like "want" come under the modal verb type taught in French, Spanish, and German more clearly than we teach in English. They connect a noun to a verb "outside of time". A phrase is just a collection of words serving a purpose. A clause always contain a subject and a predicate. Just because you see "memorize" doesn't mean doesn't mean that's a verb with some noun doing it.
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09/17/23

Khin Cho T.

Thanks for your answer，but I can't read your comment, there seems to be a technical error in your comment.
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09/19/23

Stephen S.

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It's neither a clause nor a prepositional phrase. It is an infinitive phrase. The word "to" can be a preposition, but in this case it isn't. The word "to" followed by a verb in second person, singular, present form makes an infinitive, which acts as a noun, adjective, or adverb. In this case, it's modifying the verb "says," so it's acting like an adverb.
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09/20/23

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