1. The Infinitive
Irina Trofimova

2. The Infinitive Contents The definition of the Infinitive
Full infinitive
Bare infinitive
Split infinitive
Forms of the infinitive (1)
Forms of the infinitive (2)
Syntactic functions of the infinitive
The Infinitive Constructions
The Objective Infinitive Construction (Complex Object) (1)
The Objective Infinitive Construction (Complex Object) (2)
Verbs taking gerund or to-infinitive with a change in meaning

3. The definition of the Infinitive
The Infinitive is a non-finite verb form that names a process or an action in a most general way.
The infinitive combines characteristics of a verb with those of a noun.
to be, to do, to sit = a full infinitive or to-infinitive (with the particle to before it).
Be, do, sit = a bare infinitive (without the particle to).

4. Full Infinitive We usually use the full infinitive after:
Verbs: afford, agree, ask, decide, refuse, promise, etc.
With equivalents of modal verbs: be able to, be allowed to, be permitted to, be to, have
Modal verb: ought to
With be going to, be about to, used to
Verb+object
For+object
Nouns: reasons, chance, surprise, reluctance, etc.
Indefinite pronouns: someone, anybody, etc.
Adjectives: curious, happy, glad, ready, etc.
Question words
after too/enough constructions
We agreed to meet on Thursday.
The shop refused to accept the customer’s credit card.
They are to arrive at 5 p.m.
You have to fill in a form.
Children ought to help their old parents.
We are going to buy a new book.
The game is about to start
They expect us to arrive at four.
We’ve arranged for you to visit our head office.
You made a promise not to tell anyone.
What a surprise to see him there!
I’m looking for someone to help me.
I’m happy to be here.
It was nice of Joe to congratulate us on our aniversary.
I wasn’t sure about what to do and what no to do here.
I was foolish enough to believe her.

5. Bare Infinitive We usually use bare infinitive after:
Auxiliaries and modals:
can, could, may, might, must, needn’t, shall, should, will, would, do
Perception verbs:
hear, see, watch, feel, notice, sense
After expressions:
had better, would rather, would sooner, why not, why should we (not)
Verbs : let, make
I can’t stay long.
We could go to a night club.
I must speak to the manager.
Sarah will be away for three days.
It might rain later.
I didn’t hear Tom come in.
I’ve never seen anyone eat as much as our friend can.
I’d better do it tonight, although I’d rather go out.
I’d rather listen to Elvis that the Beatles.
Why not let me help you?
Please, make her stop.
They won’t let us leave.

6. Split Infinitive
A split infinitive is an English-language grammatical construction in which a word or phrase, usually an adverb or adverbial phrase, comes between the particle to and the bare infinitive form of a verb:
… to boldly go where no man has gone before.
More rarely, the term compound split infinitive is used to describe situations in which the infinitive is split by more than one word:
The population is expected to more than double in the next ten years.
This is a great opportunity to once again communicate our basic message.

7. Forms of the Infinitive (1)
Active
Passive
Indefinite
(to) do
(to) be done
Continuous
(to) be doing
Perfect
(to) have done
(to) have been done
Perfect Continuous
(to) have been doing

8. Forms of the Infinitive (2)
The Indefinite Infinitive
The Continuous Infinitive
The Perfect Infinitive
The Perfect Continuous Infinitive
expresses
an action simultaneous with that expressed by the finite verb, so it may refer to the present, past or future
denotes
an action simultaneous with that expressed by the finite verb, but it is an action
in progress
an action prior to the action expressed by
the finite verb
emphasizes
the duration of the action of the infinitive which happened prior to that expressed by
I hope to meet her tonight.
I hoped to meet her yesterday.
I’ll hope to meet her tomorrow.
He must be sleeping now.
He claims to have worked here. (First he worked here, then he claimed he had worked here.)
He looks tired. He seems to have been studying for the test all night.

9. Syntactic Functions of the Infinitive
Subject
a part of a predicate (predicative = part of a compound nominal predicate and part of a verbal predicate),
an object,
an attribute
an adverbial modifier of purpose,
an adverbial modifier of result (consequence),
an adverbial modifier of comparison (manner),
an adverbial modifier of attendant circumstances (subsequent events)
To acquire knowledge and to acquire it unceasingly is the first duty of the artist.
The main problem is to find investors.
The train was to leave at midnight
I used to see you looking at the flowers and trees.
He promised to meet them at the airport
He was the first to offer his hand to the Russians
People eat and drink to live
The piano is too heavy to move.
She nervously turned away as if (as though) to hide her tears.
I’m sorry to have raised your expectations only to disappoint them.

10. The Infinitive Constructions
 In Modern English we distinguish the following Infinitive Constructions:
The Complex Object (The Objective Infinitive Construction );
The hunters didn’t hear a bear approach.
The Complex Subject (The Subjective Infinitive Construction );
A new star was reported to have appeared in the East.
The For-to-Infinitive Construction.
I am so glad for you to have come at last.

11. Subject +Predicate +noun (pronoun) + infinitive
The Complex Object (1)
Subject +Predicate +noun (pronoun) + infinitive
The Objective Infinitive Construction (Complex Object) is used in the following cases:
After verbs of sense perception: see, hear, feel, watch, observe, notice, etc.
After verbs of mental activity: think, believe, consider, expect, understand, suppose, find, etc.
After verbs of feeling and emotion: like, love, hate, dislike, cannot bear, etc.
After verbs of wish and intention: want, wish, desire, intend, mean, etc.
I saw the man break the window.
I heard the dog bark.
I thought him to be an excellent choice.
I believed her to be watching TV in the drawing room.
She hated him to speak like that.
The child loved his mother to sing to him.
I can’t bear him to be separated from me.
He wanted the fax to be sent today.
She only wished you to be near him.

12. The Complex Object (2)
The Objective Infinitive Construction (Complex Object) is used in the following cases:
After verbs of declaring: declare, report, pronounce, etc.
After verbs of inducement: have, make, get, etc
After verbs of order or permission: let, allow, order, tell, ask, suffer, etc
After some verbs requiring a prepositional object: count on, look for, listen to, rely on, wait for.
I declare you to be out of your mind.
They reported the plane to have landed.
I hope you’ll have him ___ sign the papers.
Beauty makes the world ___ go round.
I can’t get him to do it properly.
I didn’t allow the name to pass my lips.
The boss asked the letter to be delivered at once.
We counted on you to come and help us.
I waited for her to overcome her shyness.

13. Verbs taking gerund or to-infinitive with a change in meaning
+ to-infinitve
+gerund
Forget
Something slips your memory and the action doesn’t take place:
I totally forgot to turn off the cooker.
The action is forgotten after it takes place:
She forgot sending the message and sent it again.
Remember
To mean the remembering comes before the action described: Remember to buy a TV guide on your way home (first remember, then buy it)
To recall a past event:
I remember going to the bank, but nothing after that (I remember that I went there).
Mean
To say that we intend(ed) to do something:
He means to phone you next week.
To say that something involves doing something else:
If we want to get there by 12.00, that means getting up early.
Stop
Pause temporarily for some purpose: He stopped to eat a couple of sweets (made a pause and ate sweets).
Finish, cease doing some action: She stopped buying glossy magazines (she doesn’t buy them any longer).
try
Make an attempt, make an effort:
Let’s try to boost sales this year.
Do something and see the results, do something as an experiment:
Try restarting the computer.

14. Bibliography
Gordon E.M., Krylova I.P. “A Grammar of Present-day English”. Practical Course. – М: КДУ, 2009.
Martin Hewings “Advanced Grammar in Use” - Cambridge University Press, 2002.
Richard Syde and Guy Wellman “Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency” – Longman, 2006.
Ron Cowan “The Teacher’s Grammar of English”, a course book and reference guide. – Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Качалова К.Н., Израилевич Е.Е. Практическая грамматика английского языка. – М.: Изд-во «ЮНВЕС», 1998.