The adjective. Types of adj. Degrees of comparison

The adverbial of cause (reason)


§ 103. The identifying questions, of this adverbial are why? for what reason? because of what? due to what? Adverbials of reason are expressed by prepositional nominal phrases, participial and infinitive phrases, sometimes by absolute constructions.
Most prepositions of reason are composite and the causal meaning of the phrase, and thus of the adverbial modifier, is due to the meaning of the preposition, for example, because of, due to, owing to, on account of, for the reason of, thanks to and some others.

You mean you’ve failed because of me?

The accident happened owing to bad driving.
Thanks to my parents I got a decent education.

A number of polysemantic prepositions acquire causal meaning when combined with nouns denoting a psychological or physical state.

She couldn’t speak for happiness (anger, fear, joy).

She cried out of fear (anger).
She did it out of pity (spite).
Many people have come here from curiosity.
He was trembling with hatred.

Participial phrases and nominative absolute constructions are freely used as adverbials of reason, most often with the verb to be and verbs of feeling, wish, or mental perception.

I was happy just being with him.

Wanting a cigarette, I took out my case.
There being nothing else to do, we went home.


The adverbial of purpose


§ 104. This adverbial answers the identifying questions what for? for what purpose? It is most frequently expressed by an infinitive, an infinitive phrase or complex.

Jane has come to help us.

I’ve repeated my words for you to remember them.

The meaning of purpose may be emphasized by the composite prepositions in order or so as, which are never used before an infinitive complex.

We must go early in order not to be late.

We hurried so as not to be late.

The adverbial of purpose may also be expressed by a noun, a preposi­tional phrase, nominal or gerundial, introduced by the preposition for.

We reserved this table for lunch.

We use the thermometer for measuring temperature.

After the imperative of the verbs to go and to come another imperative is preferable to the infinitive, as in:

Go and help him. (Not Go to help him.)

Come and wash up. (Not Come to wash up.)

The use is optional for the verb to see.

Come to see me, or Come and see me.
Go to see him, or Go and see him.