Teacher Discussion Forums

Thank you to Fluffy Hamster and Lorri Keet for your previous responses on my grammar stumper.

Okay who dares to take this one on?

Topic: Using Infinitives

Grammatically correct sentence:

My mission IS TO HELP John.

(you need the "to" between "is" and "help" right?)Okay , what about:

What I HAVE TO DO IS HELP John.

(why does the "to" disappear here between "is" and "help", I know the Brits put the "to" but North Americans do not)

Any ideas?

Well, if the 'to' can optionally be omitted or included (I myself will certainly accept either version*), then it won't have truly totally disappeared, will it! In which case, where's the "problem" (for syntax)? This would just seem to be a case of possible ellipsis. Find us a puzzle where there is a definite difference (in all varieties of English)!

BTW: My mission is...'Help John' (the ... signify a pause in which a speaker is opening a secret message. In writing, a comma could occur)).

Also: ?My mission is helping John; ??What I have to do is helping John. (?=Ambiguity in meaning).

*As a Brit I'd put a 'can' between 'Brits' and 'put' in your 'I know the Brits put the "to" '.

yes, but ...."My mission is to....." is also a noun clause

"My mission" is the noun/subject and "is" is the main verb!!