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Hans51 Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

I am preparing to leave.

I am preparing to leave.


1) Does the to leave function as a noun phrase like to leave in I want to leave?

2) Does the to leave function as an adverb phrase like to leave with you in I am here to leave with you?


What do you native English speakers think?


Thank you so much as usual!

  

Top answer

I am preparing to leave . It's neither. "Prepare" is called a 'catenative' verb, and hence this is a catentative construction where the underlined to -infinitival clause is catenative complement of "preparing".

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1 Answers
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I am preparing to leave.

It's neither.

"Prepare" is called a 'catenative' verb, and hence this is a catentative construction where the underlined to-infinitival clause is catenative complement of "preparing".

Note that the same applies to your "I want to leave", where the infinitival clause "to leave" is catenative complement of "want".