Compound verbs/help

Compound verbs/help
Message from rbeaulne46 posted on 15-10-2018 at 06:31:12 (D | E | F)
Hello,
Please help me.
Thanks for any reply.
In a compound modal verb such has "be able to", is the word "to" a preposition or is it part of the To-infinitive main verb?

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Edited by lucile83 on 15-10-2018 08:45

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Re: Compound verbs/help from lucile83, posted on 15-10-2018 at 08:47:35 (D | E)
Hello,
It is part of the verb.

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Re: Compound verbs/help from rbeaulne46, posted on 15-10-2018 at 11:55:10 (D | E)
Thanks Lucile.
Let me make sure I understand right. In the sentence "I am able to work", are you saying "to" is part of the TO-INFINITIVE "to work" (which would not be a preposition) or is "to" a preposition in the phrase "am able to"?

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Re: Compound verbs/help from lucile83, posted on 15-10-2018 at 14:14:56 (D | E)
Hello,
It is part of be able to.
You can't say: are you able?
You'll say: are you able to?/can you?

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Re: Compound verbs/help from rbeaulne46, posted on 15-10-2018 at 14:53:49 (D | E)
Thanks again Lucile. So, in a compound modal verb, the word "to" is a preposition, followed by the 0-infinitive of the main verb.
Greatly appreciated, have a good day!

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