Verb Frequently of Gerund

23 Active Passive Simple infinitive to write to be written Continuous infinitive to be writing to be being written Perfect infinitive to have written to have been written Perfect continuous infinitive to have been writing to have been being written Simple infinitive The simple infinitive refers to the same time as that of the preceding verb: I was glad to see her. He must be very happy. Ill arrange a meeting with the manager. My sons football coach is said to be very strict. Continuous infinitive The continuous infinitive refers to the same time as that of the preceding verb and expresses an action in progress or happening over a period of time: Im glad to be sitting here. You must be joking. This time next week, Ill be lying on the beach in Croatia. Vincent was reported to be staying in Paris at that time. Perfect infinitive The perfect infinitive refers to a time before that of the preceding verb: Im glad to have studied at that school. They must have forgotten about the deadline. By next week, theyll have finished painting the rooms. Lucy was assumed to have left the day before. 24 Perfect continuous infinitive The perfect continuous infinitive refers to a time before that of the preceding verb and expresses an action in progress or happening over a period of time: Im glad to have been living in Barcelona for the last ten years. He must have been waiting for ages. Soon, hell have been running for four hours. The organisers were thought to have been preparing for days. Passive infinitives Passive forms are also possible: Your composition has to be typed. passive simple infinitive The spys phone was believed to be being tapped. passive continuous infinitive, rarely used This sonnet must have been written by Shakespeare. passive perfect infinitive The picture is believed to have been being painted for years. passive perfect continuous infinitive, rarely used 24

c. Function of To Infinitive

1 As Objects List of Verbs : - Agree - Appear - Be - Be about - Be supposed - Etc 2 As Subject 3 As Complement Etc. 25 24 http:www.grammaring.comthe-forms-of-the-infinitive 25 Patricia K. Werner and John P. Nelson, Mosaic 2 Grammar 4 th Edition New York: Mc. Graw Hill, 2002, p. 281-288 25 4 To Infinitive as Subject Example : to make a good movie is not easy. Notes : infinitive may replace noun as objects of verbs and as subjects. 5 To Infinitive as with It Example : It is difficult to make a good movie. Notes : infinitives often follow the anticipatory it as the subject of a sentence. 6 To Infinitive as Object of a Verb Example : I have always wanted to learn more about films. 7 Infinitive as Infinitive of Purpose Example : I am taking classes in order to learn more about filmmaking. To begin, I have enrolled in three classes. Notes : infinitives can be used to show the purpose of an action. In these cases, in order is sometimes used before the infinitive. 8 Infinitive as Negative Infinitive Example :On the most important things is not to shake the camera. Notes : not is used before the infinitive to form the negative. 9 Infinitive as For +Noun or Pronoun Example :It is difficult for me to hold the camera steady. Notes : for + a noun or object pronoun is often used with an infinitive. 26

d. Verb Frequently of To Infinitive

Afford We cannot afford to hesitate. Agree The professors agreed to disagree. Appear The results appear to support your theory. Arrange They had arranged to meet at noon. Beg I beg to differ with you. Care Would you care to respond? 26 Werner, op. Cit., p. 328