The Infinitive as Object

§ 1. The infinitive may be used as an object of a verb. It is lexically dependent in this function. We find it after the following verbs: to agree, to arrange, to ask (=to request), to attempt, to begin, to care (=to like), to cease, to choose (=to prefer), to claim, to come (=to begin), to consent, to continue, to decide, to deserve, to determine, to expect, to fail, to fear, to forget, to go on, to hate, to help, to hesitate, to hope, to intend, to learn, to like, to long, to love, to manage, to mean, to need, to neglect, to offer, to omit, to plan, to prefer, to pretend, to promise, to propose (=to intend), to refuse, to regret, to remember, to start, to swear, to tend, to threaten, to try, to want, to wish and some others.

e.g. They had arranged to visit the laboratory the next day.

She claims to have read his diary.

In addition to the verbs mentioned above, the infinitive as an object is used after the modal phrases can afford and can bear in their negative and interrogative forms,

e.g. Some say we cannot afford to do it. I say, we cannot afford not to do it.

Can you afford to go on such an expensive trip?

I couldn't bear to damage him.

The infinitive is also used after the set phrases to make up one's mind, to take care, to take the trouble, to make sure, and some others.

e.g. I took care to ask Strickland nothing about his own doings.

The next day he made sure to buy a copy of the newspaper.

With all the verbs mentioned above the infinitive is used with the particle to (see the examples above). The only exception is the verb to help which may be followed by an infinitive with or with out to.

e.g. Helen will help to make tea.

I'm sure you will help talk her out of it.

The subject of the infinitive in this function is the same as that of the predicate verb (see the examples above).

§ 2. The infinitive may also be used as an object of an adjective. It is lexically dependent in this case. It is used after various kinds of adjectives: adjectives proper, predicative adjectives and adjectivized participles. The most commonly occurring of them are: (un)able, afraid, aghast, amused, annoyed, anxious, apt, ashamed, astonished, bound, careful, certain, content, crazy, curious, delighted, determined, difficult, disposed, distressed, due, eager, easy, entitled, fit, fortunate, free, frightened, furious, glad, grateful, good, happy, hard, helpless, horrified, impatient, inclined, interested, keen, liable, (un)likely, lucky, moved, obliged, pleased, (im)possible, powerless, prepared, proud, puzzled, quick, ready, relieved, reluctant, resolved, right, safe, scared, set {= determined), slow, sorry, sufficient, sure, surprised, thankful, touched, useless, (un)willing, (un)wise, wonderful, worthy, wrong, etc.

e.g. He's still very anxious to see you.

I am curious to know the news.

The infinitive is always preceded by to in this function.

Adjectives having infinitives as objects are generally used in the function of a predicative after the link-verb to be (see the examples above). Other link-verbs are also possible, though they are infrequent

e.g.- He seemed glad to have me there.

I found them getting ready to go out.

In a vast majority of cases the subject of the infinitive is the person or thing denoted by the subject of the sentence (see the examples above). However, when the infinitive follows the adjectives difficult, easy, good, hard, wonderful, the subject of the sentence becomes the object of the action expressed by the infinitive.

e.g. Their language was not difficult to understand.

She was not easy to discourage.

Occasionally a for-phrase is used to indicate the subject of the infinitive,

e.g. He was impatient for me to meet them.

He was eager for me to start on my new job.

I am prepared for everyone to accuse me of being foolish.

§ 3. The infinitive as object may be part of a phrase introduced by the conjunction whether or one of the following conjunctive pronouns or adverbs: what, who, whom, which, when, where, how and how long.

e.g. I did not at all know what to say.

I don't know who else to ask.

As most of the conjunctive words begin with wh-, this kind of infinitive group may be called the wh-phrase. The infinitive in the phrase is always preceded by to.

As is seen from the above examples, the wh-phrase serves as an object of a verb. It usually occurs after the verb to know (see the examples above). Yet it may also follow some other verbs and set phrases, e.g. to advise, to decide, to make up one's mind, to wonder and some others.

e.g. He could not decide whether to speak or not.

I couldn't make up my mind whether to accept the offer.

As is known, infinitives generally do not serve as prepositional objects. However, the wh-phrase is occasionally found as a prepositional object of a verb or a set phrase.

e.g. As we talked of where to meet, I noticed something unusual in his tone.

In most cases the subject of the infinitive in this function is the same as that of the predicate verb; occasionally it is expressed by some secondary part of the sentence (see the examples above).

Although the wh-phrase is not in frequent use, it is not restricted stylistically.

Note. The wh-phrase may, in theory, have all the functions of the infinitive in the sentence. But actually it mainly occurs as an object to the verb to know. Here, however, are some examples of the wh-phrase in other functions:

e.g. a) as an object to an adjective: No one seemed sure how to act.

b) as a predicative: The main problem is, of course, where to go.

c) as an attribute: I don't remember that I ever received any instruction on how to put sentences together.