Chapter  V   VERB   CONVERSION

Lesson  23   Verb-Adverb Convertor(V-AD CVT): "to", "-ing", etc.

 23-1  [Verb-Adverb Convertor(V-AD CVT): "to"] 
     A verb(V), with "to" added, can function as an adverb(AD).
      (1)  We went to 7-eleven to buy some ice cream.
This is an example of conversion, because the underlined part in (1) is made by the combination of the convertor "to" plus the verb "buy some ice cream".
     The formula is:
      (2)  to + V  AD
     We call this type of convertor a verb-adverb convertor(V-AD CVT), "to". The diagram of the relevant part in (1):
      (3)  (to buy some ice cream)
                  AD
                  
           CVT[V-AD]   V
             (to)    (buy some ice cream)
 23-2  [Meanings of "to" in Adverbial "to V"] 
     The verb-adverb convertor(V-AD CVT), "to", can have various lexical meanings as well as the grammatical function of conversion.
    (i) Purpose
      (4)  You need a visa to go to that country.
      (5)  I'm here to meet you.

   (ii) Cause/Reason
      (6)  He was surprised to hear the news.
      (7)  I'm very glad to meet you.

  (iii) Base of Judgment
      (8)  He must be very rich to have such a big jet.
      (9)  How careless you were to take the wrong train!

   (iv) Result
     (10)  My grandpa lived to be ninety.
     (11)  The police rushed into the room only to find it vacant.

    (v) Condition
     (12)  He will get angry to hear such a thing.
     (13)  To tell the truth, I'm thinking of quitting my job.
 23-3  ["to" + Complex Expanded Verb AD:to have Ven,
            not to V, etc.] 
     A complex expanded verb may be converted into an adverb by "to".
      (14)  I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.
      (15)  What did you do to be hated like that?
     Diagram of the underlined part in (14):
      (16)  (to have kept you waiting)
                   AD
                    
          CVT[V-AD]      V
            (to)          
                   EPD[PERF]   V
                   (have-en)  (keep you waiting)
     Some of "to have Ven" units following the PST forms of "hope", "expect", "mean", "intend", "wish", etc. do not mean {Past} or {Perfective}; they mean {Subjunctive}.   cf. 26-6
      (17)a.   He hoped to have come.
          b. = He hoped to come, but couldn't.
      (18)a.   She intended to have attended the meeting.
          b. = She intended to attend the meeting, but didn't.
 23-4  [for + N AD]        cf. 22-5(for + N A)
     Compare the following two sentences.
     (19)a.   She opened the door for him to go out.
         b. = She opened the door that he might go out.
The underlined parts in (19a) and (19b) are both adverbs(ADs) and have the same meaning.  The underlined part in (19a) results from the combination of two conversions;"for + him" and "to + go out".
     Diagram:
     (20)  (for him to go out)
                     AD
                       
              AD             AD
                         
       CVT[N-AD]    N CVT[V-AD]    V
          (for)  (him)   (to)   (go out)
     Other examples:
     (21)  For education to be improved we must have efficient
           organization.
     (22)  The brand-new car was changed for the sumo-wrestler to 
           be able to get in and out of it easily.
 23-5  [Verb-Adverb Convertor(V-AD CVT): "-ing"] 
     Like the convertor "to", "-ing" can be attached to a verb(V) to make an adverb(AD) as in (23a).
      (23)a.   Seeing him, she ran away.
          b. = When she saw him, she ran away.
     The formula is:
      (24)  V + -ing  AD
     We call this type of convertor a verb-adverb convertor(V-AD CVT), "-ing".  The diagram of the underlined part in (23a):
      (25)  (seeing him)
                 AD
                 
          CVT[V-AD]   V
            (-ing)  (see him)
 23-6  [Meanings of "-ing" in Adverbial "Ving"] 
     The verb-adverb convertor(V-AD CVT) "-ing" can have various lexical meanings as well as the grammatical function of conversion.
    (i) Incidental State
     (26)  The young couple stood ashore looking at the sunset.
     (27)  The audience sat quietly, waiting for the show to begin.

   (ii) Time
     (28)  Doing the dishes, John hit on a good idea.
     (29)  I was caught cheating in the English exam.

  (iii) Cause/Reason
     (30)  Having no money, I can't go with you.
     (31)  Being young, he was very energetic.

   (iv) Condition
     (32)  Turning left, you'll see a big overpass.
     (33)  Judging from his appearance, he didn't pass.
     (34)  He is doing rather well, considering his age.

    (v) Concession
     (35)  Admitting what you say, I still think you are mistaken.
     (36)  Granting that he was drunk, that is no excuse for his 
           rudeness.
 23-7  ["-ing" + Complex Expanded Verb AD:being Ven, having
            Ven, etc] 
     As in the case of "to", a complex expanded verb may be converted into an adverb(AD) by the verb-adverb convertor(V-AD CVT), "-ing".
      (37)a.   (Being) Written in simple English, the book is easy
               to read.
          b. = As it is written in simple English, the book is easy
               to read.
     The diagram of the underlined part in (37a) is:
      (38)  ((Being) Written ø)
                       AD
                        
                CVT[V-AD]    V
                 (-ing)      
                      EPD[PASS]   V
                       (be-en) iwrite the book)
     Other examples.
      (39)  (Being) Tired, I soon fell asleep.
      (40)  Given the radius, you can find the circumference.
      (41)  Having finished dinner, we began to play cards.
      (42)  Not knowing what to say, he remained silent.
      (43)  Having been weakened by successive storms, the bridge 
            was no longer safe.
 23-8  [(with) N + Ving] 
     The unit of "N's Ving" cannot be an adverb(AD), because "N's" cannot be an adverb.  If you want to add the meaning of {Agent} or {Theme} to the adverbial "Ving", you have to use "with N" as in (44b).
      (44)a. *Mary's being away at school, I don't have to stay at
              home.
          b.  With Mary being away at school, I don't have to stay
              at home.
     Diagram of the underlined part in (44b):
      (45)  (with Mary being away at school)
                      AD
                        
               AD             AD
                          
        CVT[N-AD]    N  CVT[V-AD]   V
          (with)  (Mary)  (-ing) (be away at school)
     The underlined part in (44b) could be analyzed otherwise; the combination of the N-AD CVT "with" plus the noun phrase "Mary being away at school".  In this analysis, the diagram of (44b):
      (46)  (with Mary being away at school)
                      AD
                        
              CVT[N-AD]     N
                (with)      
                       N         A
                    (Mary)       
                           CVT[V-A]   V
                            (-ing)  (be away at school)
     Sometimes "with" in (44b) goes ø as in (47).
      (47)  Mary being away at school, I don't have to stay at home.
     The diagram of (47) can be either one of (48) or (49):
      (48)  (ø Mary being away at school)
                      AD
                        
               AD            AD
                          
        CVT[OM-NI]   N  CVT[V-AD]   V
          (ø)    (Mary)  (-ing) (be away at school)

      (49)  (ø Mary being away at school)
                      AD
                        
            CVT[OM-NI]       N
              ( ø )           
                       N           A
                     (Mary)        
                           CVT[V-A]     V
                            (-ing)    (be away at school)
 23-9  ["there" as a noun(N)] 
     In the following "there" is taken as a noun(N).
      (50)a.  There being a fork in the road, we lost the way.
          b.  There a fork in the road, we lost the way.
          c.  With there being a fork in the road, we lost the way.
 23-10  [when/while Ving] 
     In the following (51) another convertor, "when", is added to confirm the lexical meaning of "-ing".
      (51)  When hunting, a snake is very careful.
     Similarly,
      (52)  While traveling abroad, you often run across people who
            stimulate your imagination.
     However,
      (53)  Though *being/ø poor, they were happy.
      (54)  Whether *being/ø rich or poor, all people have to work.
 23-11  [to + V AD    vs    V + -ing AD] 
     An adverbial "to V" and an adverbial "Ving" are usually complementary in distribution.
      (55)a. *To have no money,  I can't go with you.
          b.  Having no money, I can't go with you.
      (56)a. *Mary is busy to prepare for the exam.
          b.  Mary is busy preparing for the exam.
      (57)a.  He was surprised to hear the news.
          b. *He was surprised hearing the news.
     Generally, the meanings of the two distribute:
    (i) <Meanings of the V-AD CVT "to">
             Purpose,  Cause/Reason,  Base of judgement,
             Result,  Condition
   (ii) <Meanings of the V-AD CVT "-ing">
             Incidental State,  Time,  Cause/Reason,
             Condition,  Concession
Copyright(C) 2004 Masaya Oba. All rights reserved.