Unit 17 Grammar

PresentationPages 288-289

The Ways We Use

Infinitives

Infinitive as Subject

Infinitive (Subject)

Verb Object

To procrastinate causes

a lot of problems.

Not to go ahead proved

a mistake.

The infinitive as subject is formal and rarely used. People are more likely to use a gerund or other noun:Procrastinating orProcrastination

causes

a lot of problems.

Not going ahead proved

a mistake.

Infinitive as Object

Subject Verb Infinitive (Object)

Not everyone wants to procrastinateHe decide

dnot to go ahead.

(These are verbs that take an infinitive object. Do not use a gerund instead.)

Infinitive as Subject

Complement

Subject Verb Infinitive(Subject Complement)

His job is to motivate people.

Their real intention is not to succeed.

In most cases, a gerund is also correct in this kind of sentence:

His job is motivating people.

Their real intention is not succeeding.

It + Infinitive

It Be Adjective

For/of noun or pronoun

Infinitive

It is foolish for Aliceorfor her

to procrastinate.

It was wrong of Halorof him

not to go ahead.(to go ahead = to continue)

In this kind of sentence, use the infinitive and not a gerund.

Verbs Followed by Infinitives

Verb (Noun/Pronoun)

Infinitive

They

decided/hoped/neglected

0

to callconvinced/told/urged, etc.

Steve/him

expected/needed/wanted, etc.

(Steve/him)

Adjectives Followed by

Infinitives

Adjective 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

Infinitives

Noun 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.

Too/Enough with Infinitives

To + 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 haveenough intelligence to pass the test.

intelligence enough

Active and Passive Infinitives

Active Infinitives Passive Infinitives

simple present

She plans to invite them.

They expect to be invited.

simple past

She was glad to have invited them.

They were happy to have been invited.