Posted by rfvv on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 5:35pm.

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?)
English - Writeacher, Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 5:49pm
Yes, "tried" is intransitive.

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

English - rfvv, Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 6:28pm
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?)
Answer this Question

The answer is the same as in the one you posted earlier.

Wilma tried very hard ...

He tried hard ...

The sentences have the same construction. Tell me what you think about the verb "tried."

Is it an intransitive as well?

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cf. He tried to climb the tree.

In this case, 'tried' is a transitive verb, isn't it?
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cf. 2 He tried hard to climb the tree.

(What about in this sentence? Is 'tried' a transitive as well? or is 'tried' an intransitive verb because of 'hard'?)

In the sentences "He tried hard to be able to walk again" and "He tried hard so that he was able to walk," the verb "tried" is still intransitive. It does not take a direct object. The phrase "to be able to walk again" and the clause "so that he was able to walk" function as adverbial phrases, modifying the verb "tried." So, in these sentences, "tried" is still an intransitive verb.