Posted by rfvv on Monday, March 5, 2012 at 7:39pm.

Try hard to succeed.

(What is the part of speech of 'to succeed'? Is 'to succeed' the object of the verb 'try'? Or is 'to succeed' the adverbial phrase which modifies 'try'?)
English - Ms. Sue, Monday, March 5, 2012 at 8:47pm
"To succeed" is an infinitive and is used as the object of the verb, "try." It's an object because it answers "what" after the verb.
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Thank you for your help.

1. Wilma tried very hard to succeed as an athlete.

2. Wilma tried very hard so that she might succeed as an athlete.

( If #1 is #2 in meaning, 'tried' is used as an intransitive verb. And 'to succeed as an athlete' is an adverbial phrase which modifies 'tried'. Am I right? In this sentence, is 'tried' a transitive or an intransitive verb?)

Yes, "tried" is intransitive.

"to succeed" is an infinitive, and the infinitive phrase acts adverbially.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrases.htm#infinitive

Thank you...What about the following?

e.g. He tried hard to be able to walk again.

e.g.2 He tried hard so that he was able to walk.

(In this case, is 'tried' an intransitive or a transitive verb?)

In both sentences, "tried" is used as a transitive verb. It takes the direct object "very hard" in both sentences.

In sentence #1, "to succeed as an athlete" is an infinitive phrase that functions as an adverbial phrase modifying the verb "tried." It answers the question "why" or "for what purpose" Wilma tried very hard.

In sentence #2, "so that she might succeed as an athlete" is a subordinate clause that functions as an adverbial clause modifying the verb "tried." It also answers the question "why" or "for what purpose" Wilma tried very hard.

So, both sentences have a similar meaning, and "tried" is used as a transitive verb in both cases.

In both sentences, "tried" is used as a transitive verb. In sentence #1, "to succeed as an athlete" is an infinitive phrase that functions as the direct object of the verb "tried." In sentence #2, "so that she might succeed as an athlete" is a subordinate clause that functions as the direct object of the verb "tried."

Both sentences convey a similar meaning, indicating that Wilma made a strong effort in order to succeed as an athlete. The difference lies in the structure and complexity of the sentences.

So, to answer your question, in both sentences, "tried" is a transitive verb, and "to succeed as an athlete" is the direct object in sentence #1.