Explore the origin and growth of a classic English grammar construction.
This nonfiction study traces how the accusative with the infinitive emerged, how it compares across Indo-Germanic languages, and how English usage evolved from Old English to Modern English. Based on careful reading of a wide range of texts, it illuminates scholarly theories and the historical forces that shaped this common structure.
- Learn how early grammarians explained the relationship between the accusative and the infinitive.
- See how the construction appears in different periods and varieties of English.
- Understand how related forms in other languages influenced English development.
- Discover the scope of evidence the author uses to illustrate patterns without overreaching conclusions.
Ideal for readers of historical linguistics, grammar history, and language evolution who want a clear, evidence-based view of a long-standing English feature.