This document discusses buying a home and infinitives. It provides advice for purchasing a home such as considering location, commute, lot size, and talking to neighbors. An infinitive is formed with "to" plus the base verb form and can function as a subject, object, or subject complement. Examples are given of infinitives used in different ways in sentences. The document also contrasts infinitives and gerunds, provides practice sentences to form infinitives and gerunds, and discusses passive infinitives formed with "to be" or "to get/have been".

1. Infinitives
Home Sweet Home
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2. Do You Want to Buy a House?
When you are ready to purchase a home, it is
essential to know how much you can afford to
spend. Location will be an important factor. People
who choose to buy a larger house in a rural area
can expect to have a longer commute. If you love
to garden, you may prefer to invest in a bigger lot.
Don’t forget to talk with the neighbors to learn
more about the neighborhood. Your goal is to
create a happy home and make the best possible
investment.

3. Form and Function
An infinitive is to + the base form of a verb.
Infinitives function in a variety of ways.
Infinitives
can act
like nouns
in a
sentence.
subject
object
subject
complement

4. Infinitives as Subjects
To buy a house you really love is
important.
To find the right property takes time.
subject
subject

5. Infinitives as Objects
People may choose to buy a larger house.
You can expect to have a longer commute.
object
object

6. Infinitives as Subject Complements
A subject complement is a phrase that
describes or explains the subject of a sentence.
Your goal is to make the best investment possible.
Their dream was to have a big kitchen.
subject
subject
subject
complement
subject
complement

7. Infinitives Following Adjectives
Adjectives followed by infinitives often express
feelings about the action in the infinitive.
They were ready to purchase a home.
It will be necessary to inspect the property.
infinitiveadjective
Examples: afraid, amazed, excited, fortunate, glad, happy,
important, likely, necessary, proud, reluctant, sorry, and willing
adjective infinitive

8. Infinitives vs. Gerunds 1
You may prefer investing in a bigger lot.
Some verbs are followed by infinitives or
gerunds with no change in meaning.
infinitive
gerund
Examples: begin, can’t stand, continue, hate, like,
love, prefer, and start.
You may prefer to invest in a bigger lot.

9. Infinitives vs. Gerunds 2
Don’t forget talking to the neighbors.
Some verbs are followed by infinitives or
gerunds with a significant change in meaning.
You haven’t
done it –
but it’s a
good idea.
You talked
to them –
don’t you
remember?
infinitive
gerund
Examples: forget, go on, quit, regret, remember, stop, and try.
Don’t forget to talk to the neighbors.

10. Complete the sentences with
the infinitive or gerund form
of the verb.
Example: A couple was jogging down the street.
They stopped (talk) __ to the new
neighbors.
1. The people who just moved in are unfriendly.
We stopped (talk) __ to them.
2. She forgot (buy)__ paint. She has to go back to the
store.
3. I hope I remember (go) __ to the
neighborhood meeting next week.
Practice 1
talking
to buy
to go
to talk

11. Practice 2
Make sentences using infinitives
and the adjective in
parentheses.
Example: Luckily, they found the perfect property. (fortunate)
They were fortunate to find the perfect property.
1. The owner didn’t want to hand over the keys. (reluctant)
2. They found some cracks in the foundation. (shocked)
3. I moved from my first apartment. (sorry)
The owner was reluctant to hand over the keys.
They were shocked to find some cracks in the foundation.
I was sorry to move from my first apartment.

12. Passive Infinitives
Use to + be or get + past participle to make a
passive infinitive in the present. Use to + have +
been + past participle for the past.
Request to be shown houses in your price range.
The renovations were to have been done quickly.
infinitive
infinitive

13. References
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