Learn English – Are these infinitive and gerund clauses

catenative-verbsgerundsinfinitives

Are these infinitive and gerund clauses?

He agreed to give him the ball – Here in this sentence, the infinitive clause is "to give him the ball" which is the object of the verb "agreed"? Am I right?

He has problems repairing his car – Here in this sentence, the gerund clause is "repairing his car" and it acts as an adverb to "has".

Did I understand the things correctly? Or there is something wrong?

Best Answer

[1] He agreed [to give him the ball].

[2] He has problems [repairing his car].

The bracketed non-finite clauses are neither objects nor adverbs.

These are both catenative constructions. "Agree" and "have" are catenative verbs and the bracketed non-finite clauses are their catenenative complements.

The term 'catentative' is derived from the Latin word for 'chain', for the construction consists of a 'chain' of verbs in which all except the last have a non-finite complement.

Related Topic