5.3  Uses of Infinitives

 5.3.1  Infinitive as noun (subject):

• To wait seemed foolish when decisive action was required. (subject)

• To err is human. (subject)

 5.3.2  Infinitive as noun (direct object):

• Everyone wanted to go. (direct object)

• Ladies like to shop. (direct object)

 5.3.3  Infinitive as subject complement (noun, pronoun, or adjective):

• His ambition is to fly. (subject complement)

• John’s idea of relaxation is to read. (subject complement)

 5.3.4  Infinitive as adjective:   (see also 9.3.7 of 9.3 Position of Adjectives)

• He lacked the strength to resist. (adjective)

• Show me the page to read. (adjective)

5.3.5  Infinitive as adverb:
   When infinitives are used as adverbs, they modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs,
   and they answer questions like why? how? or to what extent?

• We must study to learn. (adverb)

• You live to eat. (adverb)

 5.3.6  Infinitive Phrase
 An Infinitive phrase is a group of words consisting of an infinitive + the modifier(s)
 and/or noun(s), pronoun(s), or noun phrase(s) that function as the subject(s), direct 
 object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the
 infinitive, such as:

     5.3.6.1  Infinitive phrase as noun (subject):

• To refuse the request seemed selfish.
  〔To refuse (infinitive) the request (direct object of the infinitive) is the   infinitive phrase functioning as the noun in the subject position of the sentence〕.

• To provide the best service is our goal.
  〔To provide (infinitive) the best service (direct object of the infinitive) is the
   infinitive phrase functioning as the noun in the subject position of the sentence〕.

     5.3.6.2  Infinitive phrase as noun (direct object):

• We intended to leave early.
  〔to leave (infinitive) early (adverb) is the infinitive phrase functioning as the 
    direct object of the verb intended〕.

•  Phil agreed to give me a ride.
  〔to give (infinitive) me (indirect object of action expressed in infinitive) a ride
   (direct object of action expressed in infinitive) is the infinitive phrase
   functioning as the direct object of the verb agreed〕.

     5.3.6.3  Infinitive phrase as subject complement (noun, pronoun or adjective):

•  Jimmy’s goal is to make money.
  〔to make (infinitive) money (direct object of action expressed in infinitive) is the infinitive phrase functioning as subject complement of Jimmy’s goal〕.

•  My last concern is to be on good terms with them.
  〔to be (infinitive) on good terms with them (prepositional phrase modifying the infinitive) is the infinitive phrase functioning as subject compliment of My last
   concern〕.

     5.3.6.4  Infinitive phrase as adjective:  (see also 9.3.7 of 9.3 Position of Adjectives)

• I have a paper to write before class.
  〔to write (infinitive) before class (prepositional phrase as adverb) is the
    infinitive phrase functioning as the adjective modifying the noun paper〕.

• The step to achieve the best result may not be easy to follow.
  〔to achieve (infinitive) the best result (direct object of the infinitive) is the
    infinitive phrase functioning as the adjective modifying the noun step〕.

     5.3.6.5  Infinitive phrase as adverb:
        When infinitives or infinitive phrases are used as adverbs, they modify verbs,
        adjectives or other adverbs, and they answer questions like why? how? or to
        what extent?

•  To catch fish, use a net.
  〔To catch (infinitive) fish (direct object of the infinitive) is the infinitive phrase
    functioning as the adverb modifying the verb use〕.

• You are right to complain to the boss.
  〔to complain (infinitive) to the boss (prepositional phrase as the indirect object 
    of the infinitive) is the infinitive phrase functioning as the adverb modifying the
    adjective right〕.

• He ran too slowly to win the race.
  〔to win (infinitive) the race (direct object of the infinitive) is the infinitive
    phrase functioning as the adverb modifying the adverb slowly〕.

5.3.7  Infinitives after Certain Verbs
We sometimes use one verb after another verb with the same subject. In such cases, the second verb will have to change form, to either the infinitive form or the gerund form. For example:

• I want to eat.

• I dislike eating.

Whether the second verb should be in infinitive or gerund depends on the first verb. Here is a list of verbs that are usually followed by a verb in infinitive form:

 

afford, agree, aim, advise, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, be dying, beg, can’t wait, can’t afford, choose, claim, come, dare, decide, demand, deserve, expect, fail, get, grow, guarantee, happen, hasten, have, help, hesitate, hope, learn, long, manage, neglect, offer, omit, ought, plan, prepare, pretend, need, promise, prove, refuse, seek, seem, swear, tell, tend, threaten, train, turn out, undertake, urge, used, wait, want, wish
 

Look at these examples:

• The plane seemed to be losing height.

• We happened to meet in the street.

• The debate turned out to be very interesting.

Some verbs can be followed by the gerund form or the infinitive form without a big change in meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, propose, start

• I like to play tennis.

• I like playing tennis.

• It started to rain.

• It started raining.

5.3.8  Infinitives and Prepositional Phrases
Be sure not to confuse an infinitive—a verbal consisting of “to + verb”—with a prepositional phrase beginning with to, which consists of “to + noun” or “to + pronoun” and any modifiers.

• Infinitives: to fly, to draw, to become, to enter, to stand, to catch, to belong

• Prepositional Phrases: to him, to the committee, to my house, to the mountains, to us, to this address.

5.4   To do or to doing?

5.4.1  “To” can be part of a to-infinitive, or it can be a preposition. If it is a preposition, what follows it must be either a gerund or a noun or a noun phrase.

• I hope to see you soon. (hope + to-infinitive)

• I look forward to seeing you soon. (look forward to + gerund)

How do we know when the “to” is part of a to-infinitive or a preposition? There are usually 2 ways to distinguish the use of “to”:  

5.4.1.1  See if you can replace the verbal after “to” with a noun. If you can, then the “to” would be a preposition, and you should use a gerund after it. Eg.

• I look forward to next weekend.

5.4.1.2  The “to” in to-infinitive is independent of the word(s) that come before it. Eg.

• I tried to do it.

• I wanted to go.

On the other hand, the “to” used as a preposition is part of a fixed expression or phrase (固定詞語) with the word(s) that come before it and therefore is not independent of the word(s). Examples of these phrases include:

• I've grown accustomed to the tune that he whistles every night.

• Aristotle: “We have become accustomed to thinking of all communicative situations as rhetorical.”

• In addition to the new iPhone, Apple could be announcing a new iPad.

• In addition to developing digital photos, we also offer free photo sharing online.

• Why some workers will never admit to mistakes?

• I admit to feeling a bit ill.

• I am close to you.

• Jack is close to getting film funding for his Eyeborg project.

• Why would anyone falsely confess to a crime they didn't commit?

• Lawyer: Garridos confess to kidnapping.

• She had to face up to the fact that she was not very good after all.

• Spaniards have to face up to having to work for longer in the recession.

• I'll get round to that job in an hour.

• Jane will get round to doing it eventually.

• I look forward to the meeting tomorrow.

• I look forward to seeing you soon.

• Some countries in European Union object to German-French debt plan in early 2011.

• I didn’t object to coming here. 

• I am opposed to wars in general.

• Vinton was opposed to making this subject a special order.

• Do you prefer apples to oranges?

• I prefer doing this to doing that.

• I think I was resigned to the idea that it would never really happen.

• Many students are resigned to doing low paid work after university to build their employability.

• Why do countries resort to war to solve problems?

• Is this what they have to resort to doing when they are broke?

• Thousands take to Yemen's streets for the new 'Day of Rage' in early 2011.

• Some students take to learning English when they are very young and are good at it, but others find the subject boring and have trouble using the language even after years of schooling.

• The neighbors are used to the corner store for their groceries.

• The neighbors in this neighborhood are used to seeing the Christmas trees up before Thanksgiving and even Halloween!

• The local neighbors are used to see their streets cleaned early in the morning.
            (see also 5.4.1.2.2)

• You’ll get used to it in no time.

• How do you get used to working night shift?

• The school is committed to excellence.

• The school is committed to providing a sound academic education to students.

• The school is committed to provide a challenging and stimulating curriculum to students.          (see also 5.4.1.2.2) 

• aim at doing something. = strive to do something. (?)

• aim to do something. = attempt/plan to do something. (?)

5.4.1.2.1  There are exceptions to this rule, though. The verb that follows the “to” in phrases like in order to, so as to, in a position to, used to, etc., is in the original form. Eg:

• In order to pass the exam, he studied even harder.

• We took off our shoes so as to avoid scratching the newly finished floors.

• Being in a position to help others overcome their fears and anxieties.

• I used to come here a lot but not anymore.

5.4.1.2.2  Also, there are some fixed expressions that end with a “to,” and following which one can use either an original verb form, or a gerund. Eg:

• He is committed to help his students.

• He is committed to helping his students.

• Dentists are used to treat cavities and tooth aches.

• Dentists are used to treating cavities and tooth aches.

• Philip is prone to anger.

• Philip is prone to get angry when he is not obeyed.

• Philip is prone to getting angry when he is not obeyed.

5.4.1.2.3  And in some cases, some words that appear together may look like a fixed expression but are actually not. Eg:   

• How long will it take to see the results of jogging? (not a phrase)

• My students will take to seeing results from sending out good letters. (a phrase)

   (see also 2.2.1.1.3  3 Semi-modal Verbs)