other than to demonstrate

[deepcosmos]

Hello, everyone,

“Gold plating in the project means needlessly enhancing the expected results, namely, adding characteristics that are costly, not required, and that have low added value with respect to the targets ― in other words, giving more with no real justification other than to demonstrate one’s own talent.”

(1) While I think the ‘other than’ is a conjunction and so the parallel structure is required, are the ‘to infinitive’, ‘bare infinitive’, and ‘participle’ all allowed in the place of ‘to demonstrate’ underlined? (I guess some words have been left out ahead of ‘giving’ as in “in other words, (gold plating in the project means) giving more . . .”)

(2) Is there any special grammar rule to be applied to the verb form after ‘other than’? Also, do we have to consider the case that the verb in main clause is ‘to do’ or not? Of course, I’ve seen the sentences below, which sometime allows ‘participle’;

* Ron has no choice other than to opt for the exam.
* I was told I should be doing something other than watching TV.

source; ‘Empowering Project Teams: Using Project Followership to Improve Performance’ written by Marco Sampietro, Tiziano Villa

Will appreciate your responses.

 

[Glasguensis]

1 the to infinitive is the best choice. The present participle would work, but I don’t think the bare infinitive does. It depends more on the rest of the sentence than the use of “other than”.

2 No

 

[deepcosmos]

1 the to infinitive is the best choice. The present participle would work, but I don’t think the bare infinitive does. It depends more on the rest of the sentence than the use of “other than”.

2 No

Glasguensis, appreciate your response.

In "in other words, gold plating in the project means giving more with no real justification other than demonstrating one’s own talent.” is the 'demonstrating' a present participle or a gerund, you think?

 

[grassy]

It's a gerund.