INFINITIVES

INFINITIVES

 

The Simple Infinitve

The infinitive is made up of to + the simple form of the verb, though to may be dropped when the infinitive follows certain verbs.

After verbs of causing such as let, help, make, have, and verbs of sense such as see, watch, hear, feel, nouns and object pronouns are used with the simple verb only, without to.

Please let me study here.
I helped him pass the examinition.
I made Joel answer the letter.
I had my brother wash the car.
I saw you take the money.
Mr. Martinsky watched the bird make its nest.
I felt her anger increase.

These infinitive phrase without to are direct object of verbs.

Like participles and gerunds, invinitive resemble verbs in many ways, but also function as other part of speech. Like verbs, they combine with be and have as auxiliriaies to form tense constructions, though they are never used as the main verb of the sentences.

Simple Perfect Progressive Perfect progressive Passive Perfect passive

to write to have written to be writing to have been writing to be written to have been written

The Inifitive Phrase

Like verbs, infinitives may have a subject or an object or both. Notice that if the subject of an infinitive is a pronoun, it is an object pronoun.

We asked John to study more.                                  (subject of infinitive)
We asked him to study more.                                    (subject of infinitive)
Russell Youngblood likes to play basketball.         (object of infinitive)
She invited us to visit her farm.                                 (subject of infinitive)
She invited us to visit her farm.                                 (object of infinitive)

Infinitives plus their subjects and object are called infinitive phrase.

Use of the Infinitive and the Infinitve Phrase

The infinitive and the infinitve phrase may function in the sentences as a noun, an adective, an adverb, or an absolute phrase.

Noun
Infinitives and infinitive phrases as subjects are often used in two variations of the same sentences pattern. The meaning is the same in both.
                To change our habits is difficult.
                It is difficult to change our habits.

In this sentence pattern (noun + linking verb + noun/adjective), it is used as a dummy subject; the real subject occurs after the verb. This is mainly a stylistic device.
                Their ambition is to obtain good jobs. (subjective complement)
                He like to play the piano. (direct object)

Adjective
                Mrs. Martinsky has time to visit the zoo. (Modifies time.)
                The desire to succeed is strong in youth. (Modifies desire.)
                The books to be read this smester are listed. (Modifies books.)
                Jessica Youngblood has the money to pay for her vacation. (Modifies money.)

Adverb
                We came to discuss business. (Modifies came.)
                Mrs. Martinsky is anxious to hear the news. (Modifies anxious.)
                To arrive there on time, you must leave now. (Modifies leave.)

Absolute Phrase
                To be frank, I need money. (Modifies whole sentence.)
                To be honest, I did not pass this year. (Modifies whole sentence.)
                To tell the truth, he is weak. (Modifies whole sentence.)

Infinitive Phrase with Subjects
                A noun or the object form of a personal pronoun may occur before an infinitive and become part of infinitive phrase. These words called subjects of infinitive. Infinitive phrase with subjects occur in specific instances (mainly after certain verbs) and function as nouns.

                For us to learn how to drive will take time. (object of the proposition for)
                I want him to learn how to drive. (direct object of the verb)

Verbs Followed by Infinitive

Infinitives and infinitive phrases, like gerunds, can be used after certain verbs, but not after others. The followingis a list of verbs frequently followed by infinitives but not by gerunds. Note that there are two sentence patterns represented: noun + verb + noun and noun + linking verb + noun/adjective.

                agree                    I cannot agree to do that.
                arrange                                The committee has arranged to meet once a week.
                care                       Would you care to join our organization?
                consent                                She has consented to adress the meeting.
                decide                  Have you decided to answer the letter?
                deserve                               He does not deserve to pass the course.
                endeavor            She has endeavored to do her best.
                fail                          Do not fail to visit the museum.
                hesitate               Do not hesitate to call on me for help.
                hope                     I hope to hear from you soon.
                learn                      She learned to control her temper.
                like                         I would like to meet her.
                mean                    She meant to give me the book, but she forgot.
                promise               She has promised to repeat the course next year.
                prove                    Russell proved to be correct.
                refuse                   She refused to answer the telephone.
                seem                     The class seemed to understand everything he said.
                swear                    She swore never to do that again.
                undertake           Thecommittee undertook to tlephone all the members.

Verbs Followed by Subjects and Infinitive

Some verbs are followed by infinitive phrases containing a subject. These verbs are transitive: they must have an object. The sentence pattern is noun + verb + noun.
                advise                   He advised us to review for the examination.
                allow                     The profesor did not allow us to smoke during examinations.
                cause                    The flowers will cause her to sneeze.
                compel                 You cannot compel him to study.
                command            The officer commanded the soldiers to leave at once.
                encourage          The teacher encouraged the student to study.
                forbid                    I forbid you to talk like that.
                force                     They forced me to confess.
                get                         The manager got him to resign.
                help                       I cannot help you to pass the exam.
                instruct                 She instructed him to complete the work before he left.
                invite                     The chairperson invited the committee members to vote.
                oblige                    Illness obliged him to leave school.
                order                     The umpire ordered the player to leave the game.
                permit                  I cannot permit you to do that.
                persuade             She finally persuaded him to drive the car.
                remind                 Please remind me to pay this bill.
                request                                His friends requested him to sing a song.
                teach                     Please teach me to dance.
                tell                          The class told her to make all the arrangements.
                tempt                   The offer of a good job tempted him to leave shool.
                urge                       The doctor urged Mr. Martinsky to rest.
                warn                      The teacher warned the students to drive carefully.

Verbs Followed by ( Subject and) Ifinitive

Some verbs can be followed either by a simple infintive or an infinitive phrase. Adding th subject changes the meaning of the sentence.

ask         The Professor asked to attend the meeting.
                The Professor asked us to attend the meeting.
beg        They begged to go.
                They begged her to go.
expect   Jessica Youngblood expected to go away for the weekend.
                Jessica Youngblood expected her mother to go away for the weekend.
intend   The man intends to be a doctor.
                The man intends his daughter to be a doctor.
like         I would like to win the game.
                I would like you to win the game.
prefer   The class prefer to sing.
                The class prefer you to sing.
want      I wanted to go the art exhibit.
                I wanted Mrs. Martinsky to go to the art exhibit.
wish       I wish to meet the new teacher.
                I wish Russell to meet the new teacher.

posted by  : Rianda Rita Ayu