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| re: Quick point: just on the grammar... | |
| Posted by: Quicheo 03:40 pm EDT 04/01/21 | |
| In reply to: Quick point: just on the grammar... - GrumpyMorningBoy 10:42 am EDT 04/01/21 | |
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| Sidebar: It's okay to occasionally split an infinitive in proper English. Sometimes, it prove helpful when one is trying to clearly state one's case. | |
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| re: Quick point: just on the grammar... | |
| Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 11:41 am EDT 04/02/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Quick point: just on the grammar... - Quicheo 03:40 pm EDT 04/01/21 | |
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| "It's okay to occasionally split an infinitive in proper English. Sometimes, it prove helpful when one is trying to clearly state one's case." I don't think I have ever fully understood or even necessarily agreed with the "never split an infinitive" rule, and I certainly don't understand the difference as to when it might or might not be acceptable to do so. Seems to me this is one of the grammatical rules that might be considered more of an opinion, like whether or not it's okay to end a sentence with a preposition. Still, I recognize that many people do consider it a hard and fast rule. |
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| re: Quick point: just on the grammar... | |
| Posted by: pagates 01:03 pm EDT 04/02/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Quick point: just on the grammar... - Michael_Portantiere 11:41 am EDT 04/02/21 | |
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| My recollection from studies of a bygone past is that the "rule" about not splitting infinitives derives from the import of Latin grammar into English (when was that? I dunno ... I wasn't there, although I feel like I could have been). The rule is occasioned because in Latin the infinitive form is always a single word. See below for examples. Note there are multiple forms of infinitives for different tenses. "To sing" = present infinitive active canere to sing present infinitive passive cani to be sung perfect infinitive active cecinisse to have sung perfect infinitive passive cantum -am -um -os -as -a esse to have been sung future infinitive active canturum -am -um -os -as -a esse to be about to sing future infinitive passive cantum iri to be about to be sung |
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| Thank you | |
| Posted by: AlanScott 03:53 pm EDT 04/01/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Quick point: just on the grammar... - Quicheo 03:40 pm EDT 04/01/21 | |
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| Except I would say that frequently it is OK to split an infinitive. | |
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| Method to madness | |
| Posted by: Quicheo 06:39 pm EDT 04/01/21 | |
| In reply to: Thank you - AlanScott 03:53 pm EDT 04/01/21 | |
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| I was trying to lessen the shock to the grammar deceived. (It's like emerging from QAnon to let go of grammar myths, especially the most engrained.) |
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