Structure:OG12 139

[imskpwr]

OG 130:
The company announced that its profits declined much less in the second quarter than analysts had
expected it TO and its business will improve in the second half of the year.

This post is not about correct answer, so please don't ask for it.

I just had a doubt with this q stimulus: "TO" is used without any object at all. It looks like a "Particle" instead of a "Preposition". "Expected to" ~ Phrasal verb

Can someone shed some light on it.

[patanjali.purpose]

OG 130:
The company announced that its profits declined much less in the second quarter than analysts had
expected it TO and its business will improve in the second half of the year.

This post is not about correct answer, so please don't ask for it.

I just had a doubt with this q stimulus: "TO" is used without any object at all. It looks like a "Particle" instead of a "Preposition". "Expected to" ~ Phrasal verb

Can someone shed some light on it.

IMO 'to' is used as an infinitive TO DECLINE (decline IS HIDDEN more as ellipsis)

Profits declined ...than analysts had expected the profits TO DECLINE

[Mission2012]

It is clear case of "omission". The word Decline is omitted.
When omitting words, is it necessary that the omitted word should be in same tense.
In the example above the omitted word is "Decline" whereas in the sentence we have "Declined".[/i]