익명 12:02

Parts of Speech

Parts of Speech

In the sentence

I think the desire to be smart is a normal thing.

what part of speech is "smart" regarding the infinitive "to be"? Is it a direct object, complex subject or something else?

As I know, an adjective can't be direct object at all (and to be isn't a transitive verb but a linking one, so it's can't have a direct object even in a theory) nor an subject complement if "to be" isn't a predicate in the context mentioned above. So, what role has "smart" in the sentence?



Top Answer/Comment:

Comment: "Smart" is predicative complement of the verb "be". "(That) desire to be smart is a normal thing" is a content clause functioning as complement of "think". Within that clause "desire to be smart" is the subject and "is a normal thing" is the predicate. Btw, "the desire ..." might be preferable.

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