Grammar Presentation: Infinitives

Pages 274-275

Infinitive as SubjectInfinitive Subject

Verb Object

To procrastinate causes a lot of problems.

Not to go ahead proved a mistake.

Infinitive as ObjectSubject Verb Infinitive

(Object)

Not everyone wants to procrastinate.

He decided not to go ahead.

Infinitive as Subject ComplementSubject Ver

bInfinitive Subject Complement

Infinitive (Object)

His job is to motivate people.

Their real intention

is not to succeed.

It + InfinitiveIt Be Adjective For/Of +

Noun/Pronoun

Infinitive

It is foolish for Alice/for her

to procrastinate

It is wrong of Hal/of him

not to go ahead.

Verbs Followed by InfinitivesVerb Noun/

Pronoun

Infinitive

They

decided/hoped/neglected

0

to callconvinced/told/urged Steve/him

expected/needed/wanted

Steve/him

Adjectives Followed by InfinitivesAdjective Infinitive

Hal is reluctant to complete his work on time.

He’s careful not to make mistakes.

They’re happy to hear the test has been postponed.

Nouns Followed by InfinitivesNoun Infinitive

He can always think of

reasons to put off studying.

It seems like the thing to do.

She always shows reluctance to finish a job.

To/Enough with InfinitivesToo + Adjective/Adverb

Infinitive

The project is too complicated to finish on time.

Alice types too slowly to meet the deadline

Adjective/Adverb + Enough

Infinitive

Steve is intelligent enough to understand

the situation

He didn’t call Quickly enough to get the job

Enough + Noun infinitive

They have enough intelligence to pass the test.

intelligence enough

Active and Passive InfinitivesActive Infinitives Passive Infinitives

SIMPLEPRESENT

She plans to invite them.

They expect to be invited.

PAST She was glad to have invited them.

They were happy to have been invited.