В пособии рассматриваются основные моменты английской грамматики: части речи имя существительное, имя прилагательное и наречие; видо-временные формы глагола; модальные глаголы; неличные формы глагола

12. The Infinitive as Adverbial Modifier

The infinitive may have an adverbial function, generally of (a) purpose or
(b) result:
(a) I went there to see him. You should eat to live, not live to eat.
(b) It is too cold to bathe today. He was lucky enough to win the prize.

A. The Infinitive as Adverbial Modifier of Purpose

The infinitive with to is used to talk about people’s purposes, the reasons
why they do things.
He started drinking to forget.
They stopped for a minute to rest.
The same idea can be expressed by using in order to or so as to, but
generally they are not needed.
I got up early in order to have time to pack.
We went around the town so as to miss the traffic jams.
Note that in negative sentences in order not to or so as not to are used;
the infinitive alone is not usually correct.
I’ll go there at once in order not to be late.
I’ll write it down so as not to forget.

B. The Infinitive as Adverbial Modifier of Result

The infinitive in the adverbial function of result is usually used after too,
enough and so…as.


1. too +adjective/adverb + infinitive
a) too + adjective + infinitive
You are too young to understand.
The plate was too hot to touch. ( = too hot to be touched.)
Sometimes either an active or passive infinitive may be used. But this is
not always possible, so it is better to stick to the active infinitive.
b) too + adjective + a + noun + infinitive
He was too shrewd a businessman to accept the first offer =
As a businessman he was too shrewd to accept the first offer.
He is too experienced a conductor to mind what the critics say =
As a conductor he is too experienced to mind what the critics say.
c) too + adverb + infinitive
It’s too soon to say whether the scheme will succeed or not.
She works too slowly to be much use to me.
d) for + noun/pronoun can be placed before the infinitive in this
construction:
It’s too heavy for a child to lift.
The grass was too wet for us to sit on.
He spoke too quickly for me to understand.