1. Characteristics Tense, Aspect, Voice Distinctions The infinitive is used:
nominal verbal simultaneous actions prior actions without to with to
The Infinitive can be The Infinitive May be expressed by: May be expressed by: 1. after the auxiliary and 1. after ought to, have to,
used modal verbs; be to
1. can take a direct Indefinite Infinitive Perfect Infinitive
1. as a subject subject Active Active 2. after the verbs of sense 2. after the verb to feel, the
Never to study at night I promise never to The trouble with The girl was glad to perception: to hear, to see, to verb to be is used with to.
was her new bother you with any college is that you are have been of any help feel, to notice, to watch, to
unbreakable rule. more questions. expected to know such to the old people in the observe; 3. after the verbs to hear,
a of things you’ve farm. to see, to make, to know in
never heard. after the verbs: to make, to the Passive Voice
have (заставлять)
2. as a predicative 2. can be modified by Indefinite Infinitive Perfect Infinitive
Judy’s intention was to an adverb Passive Passive after the verbs: to let, to
become a writer and She promised to write She hated to be Judy was happy to know (-to see)
pay back the money letters regularly and to laughed at because of have been sent to
spent on her education. describe her college her ignorance, so he college to continue her 3. after had better, would
life sincerely. decided to look up a;; education. rather, would sooner, cannot
the unknown words in but, can do nothing but
the encyclopedia.
4. In questions beginning
3. as an object 3. has tense, aspect, The Continuous Perfect Continuous with why
Judy was sorry to voice distinctions. Infinitive Infinitive
leave the farm but glad It was pleasant to be She was sorry to have 5. Sometimes after the verb
to see the campus breathing fresh air been treating him so to help
again.. again.. cruelly so long.
6. after than in comparisons
Note: After the past tense verbs forms of the verbs to mean, to expect, to hope, to intend the Perfect Infinitive shows that hope or intention was not carried out.
The children intended to have taken their mother for a beautiful drive away into the country

2. The Infinitive as a Subject
Function Sentence Patterns Tense, Aspect, Voice Distinctions Phrases to be memorized
A Subject 1. Never to study at night Indefinite Infinitive Active It was my intention to show her the 1. It was always easy to …
was Judy’s new unbreakable great change in our city.
2. It was hard to …
rule.
3. It is so important to …
2. It was a great pleasure for Indefinite Infinitive Passive To be presented with flowers was very
4. It gives him pleasure to…
Daddy-Long-Legs to be pleasant for her
thinking all the time about 5. It is dangerous to …
Judy. Perfect Infinitive Active To have seen Judy was enough for her
6. It is wise of him to …
guardian
7. It does people a lot of good to …
Perfect Infinitive Passive To have been informed about her arrival
8. It won’t do you any harm to …
was a real pleasure for him
9. It has become his habit to …
Continuous Infinitive It was very strange to be talking to a
10. It surprised me to …
newcomer like that.
11. It made feel awkward to …
It was annoying to have been waiting
12. It was natural to …
Perfect Continuous Infinitive for his letters for quite a time.
Note: After the past tense verbs forms of the verbs to mean, to expect, to hope, to intend the Perfect Infinitive shows that hope or intention was not carried out.
The children intended to have taken their mother for a beautiful drive away into the country