posted by rfvv yesterday at 10:38pm.
owe [definition]
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The expressions are the definition of 'owe.' Which one is right, #2 or 1. to have to pay or repay
2. to feel the need to do or to give to
3. to feel the need to do or to give #3?
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English - Writeacher today at 4:12am
I’d say 1 and 3 are the best ways to define “owe.�
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2-2. He felt the need to do or to give to
3-2. He felt the need to do or to give
[Is #2-2 ungrammatical? Is 3-2 grammatical?]
4. He felt the need to go to the place.
5. He felt the need to give a small present to her.
[Are both grammatical? Is 'the need' and 'to go to the place' in apposition? Is 'to go to the place' an adjective phrase modifying 'need'?]
Both 2-2 and 3-2 are grammatical.
"the need" is a noun, a feeling. "to go" is the verb. "to the place" is a predicate adverb modifying "to go". It is NOT an appositive. An appositive immediately follows the subject to define it, set off by commas: "Mrs. Kim, my teacher, assigned..." "my teacher" is the appositive. "I told my sister, Ruth Ann,..." "Ruth Ann" is the appositive.
The North Korean dictator, Kim Il Jung, is..." The name is the appositive, defining the dictator. "Kim Il Jung, the North Korean leader, is..." Here, "the North Korean leader" is the appositive, telling who Kim is.
Study Infinitive Phrases here:
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/infinitivephrase.htm
Study about noun clauses here:
http://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/noun_clauses.htm
Study about Appositives here:
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/appositive.htm
Study about the differences between essential and non-essential clauses (and their punctuation) here:
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/essentialclause.htm
4. He felt the need to go to the place.
He - subject
felt - main verb
the - article
need - direct object
[to go to the place] = infinitive phrase; I can understand this as either an adjective phrase (modifying "need") or as an essential appositive. The former is probably better!
5 is very similar; only the words in the infinitive phrase have been changes.
In regards to the definition of "owe," it seems that both options 1 and 3 can be considered correct. However, English teacher Writeacher states that these are the best ways to define "owe."
Moving on to your specific questions:
1. Is #2-2 ungrammatical?
Yes, sentence 2-2 "He felt the need to do or to give to" is ungrammatical. It is missing a specific object that he felt the need to do or give to. To make it grammatical, you could say "He felt the need to do or give to someone/something."
2. Is 3-2 grammatical?
Sentence 3-2 "He felt the need to do or to give" is grammatical. It expresses that he felt the need to perform an action or give something, although the specific object is not specified.
3. Are both sentences 4 and 5 grammatical?
Yes, both sentences 4 and 5 are grammatical. They express that he felt the need to go to a place (in sentence 4) and give a small present to her (in sentence 5).
4. Is 'the need' and 'to go to the place' in apposition?
No, "the need" and "to go to the place" are not in apposition. Apposition is when two noun phrases refer to the same person or thing, and they usually appear side by side. In this case, "the need" and "to go to the place" are not referring to the same thing.
5. Is 'to go to the place' an adjective phrase modifying 'need'?
No, "to go to the place" is not an adjective phrase modifying "need." It is an infinitive phrase that functions as a complement to the verb "felt." It describes the action that he felt the need to do.