The Printable KISS Grammar Workbooks To Charles Dickens Page
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Finite Verb or Verbal? - The "To" Test
From Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities
Analysis Key

1. I am collecting my tools (DO) to descend [#1] {to my cottage} down {in the 

     village} below [#2]. |

2. She came down {from her bed}, to look [#3] {at him} {in his sleep} that night [#4]. |

3. I have less need (DO) to make myself agreeable [#5] [Adv. to "less" than

     you have]. |

4. *You* Provide somebody (DO) to take care [#6] {of you}. |

5. Have you any reason (DO) to believe [#7] [DO that Lucie loves you (DO)]? |

6. I would not ask that word (DO), to save my life [#8]. |

7. He has never been able (PA) to bear the thought [#9] {of putting it [#10] } 

     quite {out of his reach}. |

8. I believe your object to be [#11], purely and truthfully, [Adv. (manner) to "to be"

     as you have stated it (DO)]. |

9. He had been half moved (P) to do it [#12], [Adv. (cause) to "half" so strange

     (PA) it was {to him} to act [#13] {in anything} {without her quiet aid}]. |

10. He was {at a loss} how to answer [#14], [Adv. (time) to "was" until he 

     remembered having spoken (DO) [#15] {of a condition}]. |

11. It was not opened (P) immediately, {in answer} {to the ringing} {of the bell}. [#16] |

Notes
1. "To descend" is an infinitive that functions as an adverb of purpose to "am collecting."
2. "Below" is a preposition with an ellipsed object ("me"). It functions as an adjective to "village."
3.  "To look" is an infinitive that functions as an adverb of purpose to "came."
4. The noun "night" functions as an adverb. See KISS Level 2.3.
5. "Myself" is the subject and "agreeable" is a predicate adjective to an ellipsed infinitive "to be" -- "myself *to be* agreeable." This infinitive phrase functions as the direct object of the infinitive "to make." The "to make" phrase is probably best explained as an adjective to "need," but I can see why some people would view it as an adverb (of purpose) to "have."
6. "Care" is the direct object of the infinitive "to take." As in the preceding sentence, this infinitive phrase can be explained either as an adjective to "somebody" or as an adverb of purpose to "Provide."
7. The infinitive "to believe" functions as an adjective to "reason."
8. "Life" is the direct object of the infinitive "to save." The infinitive phrase functions as an adverb to "not," which, in turn modifies "would ask."
9. "Thought" is the direct object of the infinitive "to bear." The infinitive phrase functions as an adverb to "able."
10. "It" is the direct object of the gerund "putting." The gerund phrase functions as the object of the preposition.
11. "Object" is the subject of the infinitive "to be." The infinitive phrase is the direct object of "believe."
12. "It" functions as the direct object of the infinitive "to do." That infinitive phrase functions as a retained direct object after the passive "had been moved." See KISS Level 5.7 - Passive Voice and Retained Complements.
13. The infinitive "to act" functions as a delayed subject to "it." --"to act was strange." See KISS Level 5.6 - Delayed Subjects and Sentences.
14. The infinitive "to answer" functions as an adjective to the pronoun "how." "How" functions as a Noun Used as an Adverb to "loss."
15. "Having spoken" is a verbal (gerund).
16. This sentence was included to point out that "to" plus a verb that ends in "-ing" is a prepositional phrase. Whether or not words like "ringing" in this context should be considered nouns or verbs is a question rarely discussed in grammar textbooks, and linguists will almost certainly not all agree. Hence, in KISS, phrases such as "of the bell" can be considered either adjectival or adverbial.