Why do we say "reduced to asking"?

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Helen B
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Joined: 08 Apr 2008, 09:29

Why do we say "reduced to asking"?

Unread post by Helen B »

Why do we say 'reduced to asking' someone something, rather than 'reduced to ask'? What are the grammatical rules behind this structure?
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Lucy
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Re: Ask and asking

Unread post by Lucy »

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
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