Why do we say "reduced to asking"?
Moderator: Joe
Why do we say "reduced to asking"?
Why do we say 'reduced to asking' someone something, rather than 'reduced to ask'? What are the grammatical rules behind this structure?
Re: Ask and asking
Dear Helen,
The expression 'reduced to' can be followed by a noun phrase; an illustration is 'he was reduced to a quivering wreck'. In this sentence, quivering is an adjective and wreck is a noun.
The verb form "-ing" can act as a noun; this explains the use of the word "asking" in your example.
It can also be considered that "to" is a preposition in your example. Prepositions are followed by the "-ing" form; as in by doing, after saying.
Kind regards,
Lucy
The expression 'reduced to' can be followed by a noun phrase; an illustration is 'he was reduced to a quivering wreck'. In this sentence, quivering is an adjective and wreck is a noun.
The verb form "-ing" can act as a noun; this explains the use of the word "asking" in your example.
It can also be considered that "to" is a preposition in your example. Prepositions are followed by the "-ing" form; as in by doing, after saying.
Kind regards,
Lucy
Lucy is the author of Lucy Pollard's Guide to Teaching English