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Infinitives
Holly Cin
Fall 2012
InfinitivesLike gerunds, infinitives also function
as nouns. Therefore…
Infinitives can be used as subjects.
Infinitives can be used as objects.
Infinitives can be used as subject complements.
However, unlike gerunds, infinitives cannot be used as objects of prepositions.
ALSO…Infinitives can follow adjectives and nouns.
Infinitives as subjectsTo be successful requires hard work.
To work hard is important.
Not to miss the flight was my objective.
This language is quite formal.
More commonly, we use the following combination:
It+ BE + ADJ + (for s/o or s/t) +infinitive.
Or It + BE + NOUN + infinitive
It is important to work hard.
It is important for you to understand what I said.
It was my objective not to miss the flight.
Infinitives as objects
More commonly, infinitives are used as objects.
Most LCC students try to be successful.
I want to buy a new car.
Mariana asked her mother to send her a warm coat.
Fahad told his sister to wait for him at the store.
Natsume didn’t want to travel to California by car.
Infinitives as complementsHis job is to motivate people.(To motivate people is his job.)
The reason you’re here is to learn English.
(To learn English is the reason why you’re here.)
Your goal is to pass this class.(To pass this class is your goal.)
Common verbs followed by infinitives (mental
verbs)Hope to
Plan to
Intend to
Decide to
Promise to
Agree to
Offer to
Refuse to
Seem to
Appear to
Pretend to
Ask to
Expect to
Would like to
Want to
Need to
Verb + Object + InfinitiveTell someone to
Advise someone to
Encourage someone to
Remind someone to
Invite someone to
Permit someone to
Allow someone to
Warn someone to
Require someone to
Order someone to
Force someone to
Ask someone to
Would like someone to
Expect someone to
Want someone to
Need someone to
Common verbs followed by either gerunds or
infinitivesNo difference in meaning:
Begin
Start
Continue
Like
Love
Prefer
Hate
Can’t stand
Can’t bear
Common verbs followed by either gerunds or
infinitivesDifference in meaning
Remember
I remember locking the door. (I have the memory.)
I remembered to lock the door this morning. (I didn’t forget my responsibility)
Forget
I forgot locking the door this morning. (That was one of the things I did this morning but forgot to tell you).
I forgot to lock the door. (I didn’t fulfill my responsibility)
Common verbs followed by either gerunds or
infinitivesDifference in meaning
Try
I tried to smoke a cigarette, but I couldn’t.
(I didn’t smoke. Try = attempt)
I tried smoking once, but I didn’t like it.
(I smoked. Try = experience)
Common verbs followed by either gerunds or
infinitivesDifference in meaning
Regret
I regret to tell you the bad news.
(I haven’t told you yet. I’m about to tell you).
I regret telling you the news.
(I told you the news, but I should have waited.)
Common verbs followed by either gerunds or
infinitivesDifference in meaning
Stop/Quit
I stopped smoking when I became ill.
I quit smoking when I became ill.
(I stopped the activity entirely. I don’t do it anymore).
I stopped to smoke. (I stopped what I was doing IN ORDER to smoke. I took a break from reading IN ORDER to smoke).
Infinitives of PurposeInfinitives of purpose answer the question “for
what reason?”
Question: Why did Abdulrahman come to the LCC?
Answer: He came here to study English.
We can also use “in order” before the infinitive to express purpose.
He came here in order to study English
IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE “FOR” TO EXPRESS PURPOSE!
He came here for studying English. INCORRECT!
Adjectives followed by infinitives
Sorry to
Surprised to
Happy to
Glad to
Delighted to
Pleased to
Relieved to
Lucky to
Sad to
Eager to
Embarrassed to
Prepared to
Anxious to
Afraid to
Likely to
Surprised to
Astonished to
Shocked to
Reluctant to
Hesitant to
Infinitives with TOO and ENOUGH
(not ) too + adj. + (for someone) + infinitive
(not) enough + noun + (for someone) + infinitive
The class is not too difficult to pass.
I don’t have enough money to buy a Porsche.
The chair is not too heavy for me to lift.
She’s not old enough to get married.
Simple and Past Infinitives
We use a simple infinitive to indicate an action in the same general time frame as the action in the main verb.
Example: Yesterday, I expected you to call.
My expectation and the call were in the same time frame—both in the past.
We use a past infinitive to show an action that occurred before the action of the main verb of the sentence.
Example: You seem to have forgotten what we discussed.
Right now it seems that you forgot our discussion.
Three prisoners are reported to have escaped.
It is reported now that they escaped before.
Passive and Past Passive Infinitives
Passive (same time frame):
The work is supposed to be finished by tomorrow.
Past Passive (different time frame):
Dinner was supposed to have been made and ready before I came home yesterday.
The prisoners, who escaped, are believed to have been helped by the prison cook.
Passive and Past Passive Infinitives
Holly plans to invite the students to the party (simple).
The students expect to be invited to the party (passive).
Holly was happy to have invited the students to her home (past simple).
The students were happy to have been invited (past passive).
Some infinitive quotes
It is better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all.—Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”—William Shakespeare
“It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”—Emiliano Zapata
“To err is human, to forgive divine.”—Alexander Pope
“It is better to seek than to find.”—Unknown
“It is better to arrive late than never to arrive at all.”--Unknown