2. Infinitives
Like gerunds, infinitives also function as
nouns, which means…
1. Infinitives can be used as subjects.
2. Infinitives can be used as objects.
3. Infinitives can be used as subject complements.
4. Infinitives can follow adjectives and nouns.
*However, unlike gerunds, infinitives cannot be used as
objects of prepositions.
3. Infinitives as subjects
To be successful requires hard work.
To work hard is important.
Not to miss the flight was my objective.
This language is quite formal.
More commonly, we use the following combination:
It+ BE + ADJ + (for s/o or s/t) +infinitive.
Or It + BE + NOUN + infinitive
It is important to work hard.
It is important for you to understand what I said.
It was my objective not to miss the flight.
4. Infinitives as objects
More commonly, infinitives are used as objects of the
verb.
Most LCC students tryto be successful.
I wantto buy a new car.
Mariana asked her mother to send her a warm coat.
Fahadtold his sister to wait for him at the store.
Natsumedidn’t want to travel to California by car.
5. Infinitives as complements
Subject complements:
His job is to motivate people.
(To motivate people is his job.)
The reason you’re here is to learn English.
(To learn English is the reason you’re here.)
Your goal is to pass this class.
(To pass this class is your goal.)
6. Common verbs followed by
infinitives (mental verbs)
Hope
Plan
Intend
Decide
Promise
Agree
Offer
Refuse
Seem
Appear
Pretend
Ask
Expect
Would like
Want
Need
7. Verb + Object + Infinitive
Tell someone to
Advise someone to
Encourage someone to
Remind someone to
Invite someone to
Permit someone to
Allow someone to
Warn someone to
Require someone to
Order someone to
Force someone to
Ask someone to
Would like someone to
Expect someone to
Want someone to
Need someone to
8. Common verbs followed by
either gerunds or infinitives
No difference in meaning:
Start
Begin
Continue
Like
Love
Prefer
Hate
Can’t stand
Can’t bear
9. Common verbs followed by
either gerunds or infinitives
Difference in meaning
Remember
I remember locking the door. (I have the memory.)
I remembered to lock the door this morning. (I didn’t forget
my responsibility)
Forget
I forgot locking the door this morning. (That was one of the
things I did this morning but forgot to tell you).
I forgot to lock the door. (I didn’t fulfill my responsibility)
10. Common verbs followed by
either gerunds or infinitives
Difference in meaning
Try
I tried to smoke a cigarette, but I couldn’t.
(I didn’t smoke. Try = attempt)
I tried smoking once, but I didn’t like it.
(I smoked. Try = experience)
11. Common verbs followed by
either gerunds or infinitives
Difference in meaning
Regret
I regret to tell you the bad news.
(I haven’t told you yet. I’m about to tell you).
I regret telling you the news.
(I told you the news, but I should have waited.)
12. Common verbs followed by
either gerunds or infinitives
Difference in meaning
Stop/Quit
I stopped smoking when I became ill.
I quit smoking when I became ill.
(I stopped the activity entirely. I don’t do it anymore).
I stopped to smoke. (I stopped what I was doing IN
ORDER to smoke. I took a break from reading IN
ORDER to smoke).
13. Infinitives of Purpose
Infinitives of purpose answer the question “for what
reason?”
Question: Why did Abdulrahman come to the LCC?
Answer: He came here to study English.
We can also use “in order” before the infinitive to
express purpose.
He came here in order to study English
IMPORTANT: DO NOT USE “FOR” TO EXPRESS
PURPOSE!
He came here for studying English. INCORRECT!
15. Infinitives with TOO and
ENOUGH
(not ) too + adj. + (for someone) + infinitive
(not) enough + noun + (for someone) + infinitive
(not) + adj. + enough + infinitive
The class is not too difficultto pass.
I don’t have enough money to buy a Porsche.
The chair is not too heavyfor me to lift.
She’s notoldenoughto get married.
16. Simple and Past Infinitives
We use a simple infinitive to indicate an action in the same
general time frame as the action in the main verb.
Example: Yesterday, I expected you to call.
My expectation and the call were in the same time frame—both
in the past.
We use a past infinitive to show an action that occurred
before the action of the main verb of the sentence.
Example: You seem to have forgotten what we discussed.
Right now it seems that you forgot our discussion.
Three prisoners are reported to have escaped.
It is reported now that they escaped before.
17. Passive and Past Passive
Infinitives
Passive (same time frame):
The work is supposed to be finished by tomorrow.
Past Passive (different time frame):
Dinner was supposed to have been made and ready
before I came home yesterday.
The prisoners, who escaped, are believed to have been
helped by the prison cook.
18. Passive and Past Passive
Infinitives
Holly plans to invite the students to the party (simple).
The students expect to be invited to the party (passive).
Holly was happy to have invited the students to her
home (past simple).
The students were happy to have been invited (past
passive).
19. Some infinitive quotes
It is better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all.—
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“To be or not to be, that is the question.”—William Shakespeare
“It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”—
Emiliano Zapata
“To err is human, to forgive divine.”—Alexander Pope
“It is better to seek than to find.”—Unknown
“It is better to arrive late than never to arrive at all.”--Unknown
