In which sentence is the underlined infinitive or infinitive phrase functioning as a direct object?

a. to run in a marathon is hard work.

b. after all that exercise, the runners needed to drink water.

c. just as the mayor was about to give an award, it began raining.

d. to cheer on the runners, the crowd gathered near the finish line.

The infinitive phrase is functioning as a direct object in B.

(b) After all that exercise, the runners needed to drink water.

Take the verb "to need". This transitive verb takes two arguments, one that functions as the NP subject of the sentence and denotes the one undergoing the need ("the runners")  and an NP direct object depicting what the subject needs ("to drink water").

In A the infinitive phrase functions as the subject of  the sentence ("to run in a marathon") and the same applies in D ("to cheer on the runners"). In C, the infinitive phrase ("to give an award") functions as the complement of the preposition about.  

answer: i say the same thing

explanation:

atmospheres is the answer to your question.

explanation: