3. 2. 2 Infinitive without to
In some cases, we use infinitives without to.
For example:
1. I must see her at her office.
2. His mother would not let him go.
3. We watched the boys play volleyball.
3. 2. 3 Progressive infinitive Form: to be + V.ing
Like other progressive forms, the progressive infinitive is used to suggest that actions and events are were will be continuing around the time we are talking
about.
For example:
1. It is nice to be sitting
2. I noticed that he seemed
here with you. to be smoking
3. It is fun
a lot. to be meeting
the new person like you.
3. 2. 4 Perfect or Past Infinitive Form : to have + past participle
Perfect infinitives can have the same kind of meaning as perfect tenses or past tenses.
For example:
1. It is nice to have finished
2. I am sorry not
work. to have come
3. We hope
on come on time. to have finished the job by next Friday.
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We often use perfect infinitives to talk about ‘unreal’ past events: the things that did not happen or may not have happen.
For example:
1. I’m glad to have left
2. I meant
school. to have telephoned
3. She was
, but I forgot to have been
the new ambassador, but she fell ill.
3. 4. 5 Passive Infinitive Form: to be + past participle
Passive infinitives have same kind of meaning as other passive forms.
For example:
1. She asked to be dismissed
2. There is a lot of work
. to be done
3. She ought
. to be told
Sometimes active and passive infinitives can have similar meaning especially after a noun or be.
about it.
For example:
1. There are a lot of work to do to be done
2. My father has a lot of books
. to read to be read
.
3. 4. 6 Negative Infinitive
Negative infinitives are normally made by putting not before the infinitive. However, not all infinitives can be made negative. It depends on the meaning of
that verb that precedes the infinitive.
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For example:
1. I want not to take
2. Bill did
the test not agree to help
3. You were silly
me. not to have
locked your car.
3. 3 Functions of Infinitive
The infinitive may function as nouns, adverbial, and adjectival.
3. 3. 1 Infinitive as nouns
When the infinitive placed in the subject of the sentence, it functions as a noun. Just a noun can be a subject.
For example:
1. To study
2. us makes us tired.
To drive 3.
fast needs a lot of practice. To learn
another language is not easy.
3. 3. 1 Infinitive as Adverbial
Infinitive clauses are frequently adverbial. When they are, they represent the
purpose or intention of an action and they are very easily tested by replacing to with in order to.
If the structure seems to retain its meaning with in order to, the infinitive clause is adverbial.
For example:
1a. She went to the store to buy 1b. She went to the store
bread. in order to buy
bread.
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2a. Paul worked two jobs to support 2b. Paul worked two jobs
his growing family in order to support
his growing family
3a. My cousin went to college to please 3b. My cousin went to college
her parents in order to please
her parents
Like most adverbial, these can easily move to sentence opening position for thematic emphasis.
1. To buy bread
2. , she went to the sore
To support his growing family 3.
, Paul worked two jobs To please her parents
, my cousin went to college.
3. 3. 2 Infinitive as Adjectival
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