What is the grammatical function/ part of speech of "to increase funding" and "to help countries adapt?"
The United States has been under pressure to increase funding to help countries adapt to climate risks already upon them.
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1They look like [Adverbs of Purpose](thefreedictionary.com/… to me. (Why is the US under pressure? Why should the funding be increased?).– FumbleFingersCommented Nov 8, 2021 at 18:16
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Welcome! Can you help us by editing your question to include what you think about these phrases so far?– Andy BonnerCommented Nov 8, 2021 at 18:16
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They're prepositional phrases.– Hot LicksCommented Nov 8, 2021 at 18:20
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1They both belong to the category (your part of speech) 'infinitival clause', and they are both functioning as 'purpose adjuncts'.– BillJCommented Nov 8, 2021 at 19:31
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1As @BillJ said, they're purpose infinitives, like the last two words of He stopped to smoke, which does not mean the opposite of He started to smoke like He stopped smoking does.– John LawlerCommented Nov 8, 2021 at 21:19
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2 Answers
To increase funding and to help countries adapt are to-infinitive constructions.
We follow certain adjectives—such as happy, pleased, relieved, sad, reluctant, and surprised—with to-infinitives. It happens that under pressure is a prepositional phrase idiom functioning like these adjectives here. You can swap one in to see:
The United States has been reluctant to increase funding to help countries adapt to climate risks already upon them.
The pattern there is noun (the United States) + linking verb (has been) + adjective (under pressure) + to-infinitive (to increase).
To help is an infinitive of purpose here. It functions like an adverb to answer the “why”:
Why increase funding? Increase funding [in order] to help countries adapt...
answered Nov 8, 2021 at 21:24
The United States has been under pressure to increase funding [in order] to help countries adapt to climate risks [that are] already upon them.
The United States -subject
has been - verb
under pressure - prepositional modifier (adjectival) as complement
to do this - infinitive as prepositional adverbial modifying "under pressure"
{[in order] - introducing a subordinate clause of purpose
to help -
countries - noun, object of "to help"
[to] adapt [infinitive complement of "help"]
to climate risks - prepositional adverbial modifier modifying "adapt"
[that are] already upon them. - relative clause modifying "climate risks".} subordinate clause of purpose (adjectival)
answered Nov 8, 2021 at 21:25
