The infinitive is a non-finite form of the verb which has the following verb characteristics: tense, aspect and voice distinctions:
| Active | ||
| Simple | to do | to be done |
| Continuous | to be doing | |
| Perfect Perfect Continuous | to have done to have been doing | to have been done |
To form the negative, we simply put not immediately before the infinitive:
She warned me not to be late. (To-infinitive)
She should not be told about it. (Bare infinitive)
The simple infinitive indicates that the action expressed by
the infinitive is simultaneous with the action of the finite form
of the verb in the sentence:
/ know him to be a very good student. He helped me to carry the box.
When associated with modal verbs and their equivalents, the simple infinitive may also refer to a future action: It may rain tomorrow.
The continuous infinitive lays the emphasis on the duration of the action that is simultaneous with the action of the finite form of the verb in the sentence:
/ was pleased to be driving the car again.
The perfect infinitive shows that the action expressed by the infinitive precedes the action indicated by the finite form of the verb:
/ am glad to have taken your advice.
The perfect continuous infinitive denotes an action in progress which lasted for some time before the action (or state) expressed by the finite verb:
/ am pleased to have been doing this work all the time.
After the past tense of verbs expressing hope, expectation, intention the perfect infinitive is used to indicate that the action was not carried out'.
I meant to have called you but I didn 't have time.
He hoped to have come.
In common with the finite forms of the verb, the infinitive of a transitive verb has a direct object and is modified by an adverb:
I saw him drive a motorcar.
Her aim is to speak English fluently.
Uses of the Infinitive
1. The infinitive may be the subject of a sentence.
To save money now seems impossible. To know how to drive is useful. Or It is useful to know how to drive. (It is more usual to place the pronoun it first.) Note the use of introductory it in interrogatives: Would it be safe to camp here?
2. The infinitive may be the complement of the verb.
His plan was to keep the affair secret.
3. The infinitive may be the object or part of the object of a verb. It can follow the verb directly:
He wants to pay now. Or follow verb + question words:
Please show me what to do. = What should I do? Please show me. Can you tell me how to get there? = How do I get there? Can you tell me? Or follow verb + object.
She wants Peter to come on Monday.
NOTE: The infinitive as object or complement of the verb is used after the verbs:
want need
would like would love would prefer would hate
hope
expect
plan
intend
mean
long
decide
choose
promise
propose
agree
refuse
seem
appear
pretend
attempt
help
claim
etc.
4. The infinitive can be used after certain nouns and pronouns:
Many nouns that correspond to verbs can be followed by a to-infinitive:
Ida not wish to see you. I have no wish to see you.
He refused to help me. His refusal to help me was a surprise.
We agreed to meet later. We made an agreement to meet later.
Other verb / noun pairs like this are:
to apply - an application to attempt - an attempt
to decide - a decision to propose - a proposal
to determine - determination,
to plan — a plan, etc.
5. The infinitive can be used after adjectives:
Adjective + to infinitive is used:
1) to express simple emotions and attitude:
to be anxious / determined / pleased / happy / easy / sure / (un) likely, etc. + to-infinitive
Г т pleased to be here.
He is sure to do the work.
2) to praise / to criticise people:
to be right / wrong / silly / generous / selfish / stupid, etc. (of smb.) + to-infinitive
It was kind of you to ask them to come.
Wasn 't it clever to do that!
3) after comparative or superlative of adjectives and expressions with adverbs too and enough:
It would be more interesting to go out.
The piano is too heavy to move.
He is not strong enough to move this box.
6. The infinitive can express purpose.
We use to do, in order to do and so as to do to express purpose. They answer the question "Why?" or "To do what?"
to get I went to college in order to get a better job later.
so as to get
Note the negative forms:
/ went to the city not to see the sights, but to find a job. Phone for details of our holidays immediately in order not to miss this wonderful opportunity!
They exchanged addresses so as not to lose touch with each other.
7. The infinitive can be used with introductory or final set expressions.
To put it mildly, you are not very polite. I've never met him, to tell you the truth. To be honest, I liked it greatly. etc.
Infinitive without Particle to. (Bare Infinitive)
| Rules | Examples | ||
| Bare infinitive is used: 1. after auxiliaries and modal verbs except ought, have, be. | Do you know what time it is now? You must come and see us one day. You ought to have come earlier. | ||
| 2. after the verbs denoting sense perception such as to hear, to see, to feel, to watch, to observe, to notice, etc. in the active voice. | I saw him enter the shop. But: He was seen to enter the shop.
| ||
| 3. after the verbs to let, to make, to have (in the meaning to get), to know (in the meaning to see /to observe) in the active voice. | Don 't let the children annoy you. She made me do this test again. I'll have an electrician repair it. I have so often known a change of medicine work wonders. She made me do this exercise again. But: I was made to stand in the corner. | ||
| 4. after modal expression had better, cannot but, would rather, nothing but, would sooner, cannot choose but. | I'd rather be told the truth. You 'd better not make a mistake next time. He couldn 't but go there. | ||
| 5. in infinitive sentences beginning with why (not). | Why not cook fish tonight? You look tired. Why not take a holiday? | ||
| 6. We use both bare infinitive and to-infinitive forms after the verbs need, dare, do and help. (Bare infinitive is preferable after positive forms and needn't. To-infinitive after doesn't / don 't need, dare not and help not.) | You needn't do this washing up. You don 't need to clean the floor. Does he dare (to) refuse you? All I did was (to) give him the information. Mother helped me (to) do my homework. How can I help my children not to worry about their exams? | ||
Omitted to
We can join ideas with and, except, but and or. The particle to is usually dropped before the second infinitive.
She wanted to go and *see the film.
He wanted to do everything except *study for his exams.
She didn 't know whether to laugh or (to) *cry. Note: When two infinitives are joined by and, the second is almost always a bare infinitive. When they are joined by but or or, a to-infinitive is possible, but a bare infinitive is more common.
Reduced Infinitive
Sometimes the whole infinitive needs not to be repeated if it is understood from the context.
A: Can you and Mary come to lunch next Sunday? •
B: I'd love to.
A: Can I smoke in here?
B: No, you aren 't allowed to.
A: Why aren't you coming to the film?
B: I don't want to.
Practice
7. Read and translate the sentences. Analyse the forms of infinitives:
1. I intend to start immediately. 2. They happened to be discussing something when I came in. 3. The patient wanted to be examined. 4. She didn't want to bother anyone and she didn't want to be bothered either. 5. Ann appears to have been typing since morning. 6. The child seems to be sleeping now. 7. She turned out to have been cleaning the house since morning. 8. My
doctor told me to be thinking about something else while the plane was taking off, but it didn't do much good. 9. I am quite ashamed to have given you so much trouble. 10. It's great to have finished our exams! 11. This palace is said to have been built in three years. 12. Don't talk too much if you want to be listened to. 13. They may have telephoned while you were out. 14.1 meant to have bought a newspaper on my way home, but I forgot about it. 15. It seems to have been snowing ever since we came here.
2. Use the correct form of the infinitive of the verb in brackets.
1. Robert hopes (select) to play in next week's football match. 2. Sue and Richard are always arguing. They seem (have) a few problems. 3. I sent my suit (dry-clean). 4. I'm sorry (disturb) you, but could you tell me the time? 5. It is ever so kind of you (send) all those lovely flowers when I was ill. 6. If he is seriously ill, his wife wants (tell) immediately. 7. The money for charity is supposed (raise) by the organisers of the party. 8. The police are looking for a missing boy. He is believed (wear) a white pullover and blue jeans. 9. Everything is just the way it used (be). Nothing seems (change). 10. When we got to the airport, we found all the flights (cancel) that day. 11.1 meant (telephone), but I forgot. 12. You were silly (not lock) your car. 13. Why is she so late? - She can still (work). 14. You should (tell) you were coming. 15. I'm sorry (not come) last Thursday. 16. If you go out like that you're certain (recognise) sooner or later. 17. We hope (finish) the job by next Saturday. 18.1 would (go) to university if my parents had had more money. 19. Well, I am not sorry (miss) that train. I should not have met you otherwise. 20. There were always four little boys (pick up) balls and at least three dozen balls (pick up). 21. She is known (refuse) better offers than that.
3. Paraphrase the following sentences using the infinitive active or passive.
1. She was sorry that she had missed so many classes before the exams. 2. Emma was surprised when she heard of his
sudden arrival. 3. She was extremely happy when she found her children safe and sound. 4. David was afraid that he would put on weight if he gave up smoking. 5. She was lucky enough that she'd been given another chance to admire the masterpiece. 6. The girl was out of breath. It seemed that she had been running. 7. When he felt worse, he was sorry that he hadn't consulted the doctor before. 8. You should give this matter top priority. 9. We expect they will invite us to the meeting with the management. 10. It is nice when someone is waiting on you at dinner. 11. I hope they will interview me for this job. 12. Go and talk with George. He believes that we have unfairly treated him.
4. Read the newspaper report about the racing driver Chuck Ladder. Do the task below.
