21-Infinitive and Infinitive Phrase

Infinitive and Infinitive Phrase
An infinitive is a verb form, usually beginning with the word to, that can act as a noun, an
adjective and an adverb.
An infinitive phrase is a group of words that includes an infinitive and other words that
complete its meaning.
Infinitives
Active passive
1- To + v1 To + be + v3
2- To + have + v3 To + have + been + v3
a. I want to eat pizza. (to +v 1) a. Everyone desired to be admired.
b. To be loved is the greatest happiness in life.
c. The books seem to have been translated.
d. She wants to do well on the test. My mom asked me to wash the dishes.
1. Infinitive as Nouns
(a) Subject
- To travel in Europe is very expensive. (subject)
It is very expensive to travel in Europe. (preparatory subject ‘it’)
- To study Korean is my goal this semester. (subject)
- To be meeting a famous actor is very exciting.
- It is not easy to find the bank.
- To be elected by my peers is a great honor.
- It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves.
(b)Subject complement
- My goal this semester is to study Korean. (Subject complement)
- Our goal is to win. (Subject complement)
- My hobby is to cook.
- My goal is to be better at math than all the students in Riverside.
- His intention was to make friends. (subject complement)
- Grace’s passion is to ride horses. (subject complement)
(c) Direct Object

- We hope to win the game.
- I really want to dance well to impress my friends.
- We should make it a habit to eat healthy food.
- The actress wanted to be famous.
- Everyone desires to be admired.
- The scientists decided to investigate the bilingual brain. (Direct Object)
- Grant hopes to see Blaire before her show. (D.O)
- I decided never to give up so easily.
- I make it a rule never to watch television on Saturdays.
- I found it interesting to learn English. (preparatory object ‘it’) (D.O)
Note: To-infinitive cannot be the object of a preposition.
- She is pretty good at dancing. (not … at to dance.)
Verbs followed by a to-infinitive
Want/ decide/ need/ manage/ fail/ expect/ hope/ wish/ promise/ agree/ refuse/ swear/
vow / plan/determine/ prepare/ endeavor/ seek/ afford/ pretend/ choose
(d)Object complements
- I want you to be happy. (O.C)
- My doctor told me to stop smoking. (O.C)
- Many schools do not allow students to use cell phones in school.
- I can’t allow you to behave like that.
- My mom forced me to tell the truth.
- My parents allow me to spend time with my friends.
Note: Verbs followed by an object and a to-infinitive (object complement)
Want/ need/ expect/ allow/ force/ advise/ ask/ require/ permit/ forbid/ enable/ encourage/
persuade/ tell/ urge/ cause/ warm/ remind.
(e) Appositive
- His intention, to explain the law, is reasonable.
- This project to investigate the bilingual brain was funded by their university.
Note: You can often replace them with gerunds without changing the meaning of the
sentence.
To quit now would be a mistake. Quitting now would be a mistake.
He likes to run. He likes running.
To know her is to trust her. (Not Knowing her is trusting her)
Note: It can never be the object of a preposition.
2. Infinitive as Adjectives (which)
- I need a book to read.
- Harriet has the ability to read quickly.
- I bought some candy to eat at the movies.
- I need a chair to sit on. (Adj)
Be to +V1
- Plans/ arrangements (is going to): I am to see her at Stella’s tonight.
He is to meet her at the restaurant tomorrow.
Intentions (intend to) (showing pre-conditions in the main clause of a conditional):
If you are to go to Canada, you should be able to speak a little English.
If you are to achieve your goals, do your best.
3. Infinitives as Adverbs
(a). Adverb Infinitives modifying Verbs (why)
- They came to help us. (adv)
- Purposes (so as to-v, in order to-v); All plants need water to grow.
- The researchers tested the language learners to understand their anxiety levels.
- To understand their anxiety levels, the researchers tested them.
Note: When used as introduction phrases, you must set them off with a comma.
They are modifying the verb if they answer the question “why”.
(b) Adverb Infinitives modifying Adjective
- The child was happy to cooperate.
- I am very happy to meet you.
It is important not to worry about what will happen in the future.
Note: Adverb infinitives is immediately following the predicate adjectives that they are
modifying. They are not movable like infinitives modifying verbs.
In a few cases, infinitives are used without the to particle.
(e) I want him to win the race.
(f) I saw him win the race.
(g) I allowed him to win the race.
Infinitives can even have subjects, which perform the action of the infinitive:
(h)I like Kelly to enjoy these nightly reading.
(Kelly is the subject of the infinitive verb; she does the enjoying. These nightly reading is
the direct object of to enjoy.)
(i) I need you to go to the store today.
(You is the suject; to the store and today are adverbial, modifying the infinitive.)
(j) I want her to enjoy reading.
(Her is the subject of the infinitive; reading, a gerund, is the direct object of the infinitive.)
Bare infinitives (without ‘to’)
Dangling infinitives
(k)To get to the market today, your chores should be done early. (dangling)
To get to the market today, you should do your chores early.
(l) To be heard in this large room, the microphone must be adjusted. (dangling)
To be heard in this large room, we must adjust the microphone.

21-Infinitive and Infinitive Phrase

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Infinitive and Infinitive Phrase

(c) Direct Object

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