14
The infinitive
115 Summary
Infinitive forms • 116
An infinitive can be a bare infinitive (e.g. play) or a to-infinitive (e.g. to play). There
are also perfect and continuous forms.
Infinitive clauses • 117
We can put an object or adverbial after the infinitive.
I want to play some records now.
The to-infinitive as subject and complement • 1 1 8
To break your promise would be wrong.
It would be wrong to break your promise.
The object of the game is to score the most points.
The to-infinitive expressing purpose and result • 1 1 9
I came here to get some information.
We got home to find visitors on the doorstep.
Verb + to-infinitive • 120
I hope to see you again soon.
To-infinitive or gerund after a verb • 121
I wanted to play./I enjoyed playing.
Verb + object + to-infinitive •
122
My parents have invited us to visit them.
Adjective + to-infinitive • 123
It's nice to see you.
Noun phrase + to-infinitive • 124
I haven't got anything to wear.
Question word + to-infinitive • 125
I didn't know what to do.
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116 Infinitive forms
For and
of with a to-infinitive • 126
It's usual for guests to bring flowers.
It was kind of you to help.
Patterns with the bare infinitive • 127
You could walk round the earth in a year.
I'd better put this cream in the fridge.
The ride made me feel sick.
116 Infinitive forms
1 Bare infinitive To-infinitive
Simple play to play
Perfect have played to have played
Continuous be playing to be playing
Perfect + continuous have been playing to have been playing
For the passive, e.g. to be played, • 112.
2 A simple infinitive is the base form of a verb, with or without to.
Bare infinitive: I'd rather sit at the back.
To-infinitive: I'd prefer to sit at the back.
There is no difference in meaning here between sit and to sit. Which we use
depends on the grammatical pattern.
3 Here are some examples with perfect and continuous forms.
It's a pity I missed that programme. I'd like to have seen it.
You'd better have finished by tomorrow.
The weather seems to be getting worse.
I'd rather be lying on the beach than stuck in a traffic jam.
The man appeared to have been drinking.
We cannot use a past form.
NOT I'd like to saw it.
4 A simple infinitive refers to the same time as in the main clause.
I'm pleased to meet you.
(The pleasure and the meeting are both in the present.)
You were lucky to win.
(The luck and the victory are both in the past.)
We use a perfect infinitive for something before the time in the main clause.
I'd like to have seen that programme yesterday.
(The desire is in the present, but the programme is in the past.)
We use a continuous infinitive for something happening over a period.
You're lucky to be winning.
(You're winning at the moment.)
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14 THE INFINITIVE
5 In the negative, not comes before the infinitive.
I'd rather not sit at the front.
I'd prefer not to sit at the front.
NOTE
It can make a difference whether the main verb or the infinitive is negative.
I told you not to go. (= I told you to stay.)
I didn't tell you to go. (= I didn't say 'Go'.)
6 To can stand for an infinitive clause. •39(1)
I have to go out, but I don't want to.
We can sometimes leave out to so that we do not repeat it.
It's better to do it now than (to) leave it to the last minute.
When to-infinitives are linked by and, we do not usually repeat to.
I'm going to go out and have a good time.
117 Infinitive clauses
1 An infinitive clause can be just an infinitive on its own, or there can be an object
or adverbial.
A ride on a London bus is the best way to see the city.
We need to act quickly.
An adverbial usually comes after the infinitive, and an object always comes after it.
NOT the best way the city to see
NOTE
An adverb can sometimes go before the infinitive. Compare the position of
suddenly in
these clauses.
I didn't expect you to change your mind suddenly.
I didn't expect you suddenly to change your mind.
It can also sometimes go between to and the verb.
I didn't expect you to suddenly change your mind.
This is called a 'split infinitive' because the infinitive to change is split by the word suddenly.
Split infinitives are common usage, although some people regard them as incorrect. In
general, it is safer to avoid them if you can, especially in writing. But sometimes we need to
split the infinitive to show that the adverb modifies it.
Wo one claims to really understand what is happening.
The government is planning to secretly test a new and more powerful weapon.
This makes it clear that we mean a real understanding (not a real claim), and that the test is
secret (not just the plan).
2 A preposition comes in its normal place, usually after a verb or adjective.
Your meals are all you have to pay for.
There's nothing to get excited about.
I need a vase to put these flowers in.
NOTE
In more formal English we can begin the clause with a preposition and relative pronoun.
Less formal: I need some information to base the article on.
More formal: I need some information on which to base the article.
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