DreamZero
In an infinitive, can "to" be followed by an adverb? Thank you! Like the first sentence: (1) I would like to still call you Will. (Will is his real name) (2) I would still like to call you Will. Then, which is right? I do not know where should "still" be put? or how to express that?
Apr 14, 2013 1:41 AM
Answers · 4
3
In the examples you gave, (2) is unambiguously the right choice, and sounds better than (1). English teachers have been warning against the use of "split infinitives" since time immemorial, but Americans do often place an adverb between "to" and the verb. Even Star Trek's catch phrase does this ... "to BOLDLY go where no man has gone before." The false controversy is that some old school grammarians think that English should be modeled after Latin, and since you can't put an adverb in the middle of a Latin verb in infinitive form, you shouldn't be able to do that in English either, so they say. However, English is a different language! So even though I *try* to avoid split infinitives, I will do it from time to time if it just sounds better. For your particular example, it so happens that "still" modifies the verb "like," so "still" should be placed as closely to "like" as possible.
April 14, 2013
2
this is called 'split infinitive' - 100 years ago Fowler wrote in his English usage you musn't do it - but now it's quite acceptable - yes you can 'split the infinitive with an adverb or even a phrase or clause - but think to yourself, can I phrase that better? (can I better phrase that?) :D to thoughtlessly write ugly English is easy! :D
April 14, 2013
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