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Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage reads

When a second infinitive is used after a to-infinitive, the second (and third, etc.) example is not necessarily preceded by to. Contrast ‘can be induced to move or to change its orientation’ with ‘I prefer not to live and work in the same room

Aren't to move and to change infinives in the first sentence too?

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  • Fowler gives examples of non-ellipsis and ellipsis (hence 'Contrast'). All four possibilities here are grammatical, but I prefer these style choices. // I’m voting to close this as essentially a non-question. Feb 28, 2021 at 17:22
  • Yes, they are infinitives, too. Fowler says a repeated infinitive "is not necessarily preceded by to". That means the to might appear, as it does in the first pair, or not, as in the second. Feb 28, 2021 at 17:23
  • @EdwinAshworth why are the preferred wordings different? All I can see is that the first sentence has a past participle wheras the second a verb (prefer).
    – GJC
    Feb 28, 2021 at 17:36
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    No, that's not a factor. There's more of a contrast in the first sentence (move / change orientation). It's not just the disjunction; 'Students are forbidden to eat or drink in the library' but 'The squid were unable to change colour or to jet to safety after being fed vindaloo extract'. // 'Live and work ...' is pretty coherent. Feb 28, 2021 at 17:48
  • Yes, they are plain forms (your infinitives). Why would you doubt that? The subordinator "to" is not part of the verb, but a special marker for the VPs of infinitival clauses. In your first example, "... [to move] or [to change]" form a coordination of two infinitival clauses linked by "or". In your second example "to [live and work]" "live" and "work" form a coordination, not of two clauses, but of two verb phrases.
    – BillJ
    Feb 28, 2021 at 19:05

1 Answer 1

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In the simplest terms, the second “to” adds emphasis and, often, separation. That emphasis is used to enhance the context.

I want you to verb1 and to verb2 indicates two distinct actions. I want you to wash the car and to dig the garden. The context should indicate why the two actions are, or need to be, distinct.

I want you to verb1 and verb2 indicates simultaneous actions. I want you to wait and see what happens.

In I want you to verb1 and verb2, verb1 and verb2 could be considered as one action/verb or that they are on a continuum.

‘(It) can be induced to move or to change its orientation’ = ‘(It) can be induced [either] to move [in a straight line] or to change its orientation [but not both or both at the same time].’

‘(It) can be induced [both] to move and change its orientation’ The action of the infinitives take place at the same time: there is movement and change.

‘I prefer not to live and work in the same room’ Both verbs share the same modifier. The action of the infinitives takes place at the same time.

‘I prefer not to live here or to work with you’ Neither verb shares the same modifier. The time of the action of the infinitives is unconnected/separate.

I want you to eat and enjoy the meal. Both infinitives share the same object and their action takes place at the same time.

I want you to stand up and to watch the horizon. The actions of the infinitives are separate – first you stand still, then you watch the horizon.

I want you to stand up and watch the horizon. The action of the infinitives takes place at the same time as part of a continuum – you will be standing up and watching the horizon - there is no separation in the actions.

I want you to stand up or to watch the horizon. The actions of the infinitives are separate – You can do one or the other, but not both.

I want you to stand up or watch the horizon. This is the same as above.

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  • Do you want to live and die in the wilderness? books.google.es/…
    – GJC
    Mar 1, 2021 at 8:12
  • @GJC Yes, exactly - (i) the verbs share the same modifier, (ii) the verbs describe a continuum - the second "to" is not required
    – Greybeard
    Mar 1, 2021 at 11:00
  • Does "and" vs. "or" in the OP examples have anythig to do with the addition of "to"?
    – GJC
    May 14, 2021 at 17:16

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