Learn English – “to” between substantive and infinitive

grammarinfinitives

I have the following simple sentence:

This is the file to download.

I know what this sentence means (This is the file that shall be downloaded.). However, I believe that this paraphrase depends on the current context; but I don't understand what role the "to download" has in the sentence. What is this construction called?

Best Answer

In a comment, ProfessorAnswers are competitive and I have an unfair advantage Lawler answered:

This is what's known as a Relative Infinitive. Relative clauses are tensed clauses normally (the man who came to dinner; the chair (that/which) he sat in), but infinitives may also occur.

Relative infinitives have a number of peculiarities:

  • they always imply some deontic modal like should, so the example means This is the file that one should download;
  • the antecedent can be either the subject or the object of the infinitive (the man to talk to; the man to do the job);
  • no relative pronoun, except when pied-piping: the man with whom to speak, but *the man who(m)/that to watch.
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