The infinitive
1. Study the following information.
The infinitives are:
The to-infinitive e.g. I hope to pass this exam.
The bare infinitive (infinitives without to) e.g. He can’t pass this exam.
The to-infinitive is used:
to express purpose e.g. She went to the bank to get some money.
after certain verbs (advise, afford, agree, appear, decide, expect, hope, manage, offer, promise, refuse, seem, want, pretend, etc.). e.g. He advised me to apply for the job.
after verbs as know, decide, ask, learn, remember, want to know, teach, etc., when they are followed by question words (who, what, where, how, etc). ‘Why’ is followed by a subject + verb, not by an infinitive. e.g. I can’t decide what to do. I want to know why you’ve decided to leave.
after adjectives such as nice, sorry, glad, happy, willing, afraid, ashamed, etc. e.g. He is glad to be back.
after too and enough e.g. She is too shy to speak to her boss. We’ve got enough money to buy a new car.
after it + be + adjective (+ of + noun/pronoun). e.g. It was nice of him to help us.
after would like / would love / would prefer / would hate. (to express specific preference) e.g. I would like to learn a foreign language.
after only to express an unsatisfactory result. e.g. He rushed to the back door only to discover that it was locked.
after certain nouns. e.g. It’s my privilege to present the winner of the competition.
after be + the first / second, etc. / last / best etc. e.g. You’ll be the first to break the news.
after so + adjective + as. e.g. Would you be so kind as to help me with the correcting mistakes in this letter?
in the expressions for + noun / pronoun + to-infinitive. e.g. For her to behave like that was very unusual.
in the expressions: to tell the truth, to begin with, to be honest, to start with, to sum up, etc. e.g. To begin with, I’d like to introduce our new manager, Mr. Jones.
The bare infinitive is used:
after modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would) e.g. I must study hard.
Note. After the modal verb ought we use the to-infinitive. e.g. You ought to help her.
after the verbs let, make, see, hear, feel in the active. e.g. They made him pay the damage.
Note 1. Be made / be seen / be heard (passive) all take the to-infinitive. e.g. He was made to pay the damage.
Note 2. ‘Let’ turns into ‘be allowed’ in the passive. e.g. They let him use their notes. – He was allowed to use their notes.
after had better, would rather and would sooner. e.g. You had better sign the contract. I would rather go home now.
Note 1. Help is followed by either the to-infinitive or the bare infinitive. e.g. She helped me (to)write the report.
Note 2. If two infinitives are joined by ‘and’, the ‘to” of the second infinitive can be omitted. e.g. He decided to go to university and study psychology.
Note 3. We form the negative infinitive with not. e.g. He decided not to accept the job.
2. A) Complete the answers using a question word + to-infinitive.
1. A: Which branch of science are you going to choose? B: I’m not sure __________________ . 2. A: Where are you going to work after graduating from the University? B: I don’t know _______________________ . 3. A: How many people are you going to invite to your birthday party. B: I can’t decide ____________________ 4. A: How are you going to do your hair? B: I’m wondering _____________________ . 5. A: Which articles are they going to discuss? B: I have no idea _____________________ . 6. What kind of flowers are you going to order? I haven’t decided ___________________________. 7. Where are you going to have your reception? I don’t know ____________________________. 8. Which company are you going to hire. I’m not sure __________________________.
B) Complete each sentence using wh- (what / how / whether) + the following verbs:
do get go ride say use
1. Do you know _________ to John’s house? 2. Can you show me _________________ this washing machine? 3. Would you know ________________ if there was a fire in the building? 4. You’ll never forget ________________ a bicycle once you learnt. 5. I was really astonished. I didn’t know __________________ 6. I’ve been invited to the party, but I haven’t decided ___________________ yet.
3. In pairs ask and answer questions using the prompts below as in the example.
Example: SA: Is this book too boring to read? SB: Yes, it’s too boring. I can’t read it.
1. the film/ scary / watch; 2. the decision / important / make; 3. the report/ boring /read; 4. the exercise/ difficult /do; 5. the work / urgent / delay; 6. the shoes/ tight /wear; 7. the choice / difficult / make; 8. the car / expensive / buy 9. the dish / spicy / eat; 10. the suitcase / heavy / carry; 11. the coffee / hot / drink
4. Complete the sentences with too or enough and the adjective in brackets.
A. 1. A: Do you want to study today? B: Oh, no. I’m _______ to study today. (tired) 2. A: Can you comply with this assignment? B: No, I’m not _______ to comply with it. (competent) 3. A: Did they pass the exam yesterday? B: No. They were not _______ to pass it. (prepared) 4. A: Did you sign the contract yesterday? B: Yes. It was ________ to delay. (urgent) 5. A: Would you come to the disco? B: No, I’m ________ to go to the disco. (busy) 6. A: Did they go on a picnic yesterday? B: No. It was _______ to go on a picnic. (cold) 7. A: Did Jane enjoy the horror film? B: No, she was _______ to enjoy it. (scared) 8. A: Will you go to London by bus? B: No. The bus is ________ (slow). I’ll take the train. 9. A: Did she like the dress you tried on. B: Yes, but it was _________ (big). 10. A: Take a photograph of me. B: I can’t. It isn’t _________ in here (bright).
B. 1. He is very short. He can’t be a basketball player. He is too_________________ 2. She has saved enough money. She can go on holiday. She has saved ____________ 3. The tea is very hot. I can’t drink it. The tea is _____________________________ 4. Daisy is very young. She can’t go to school. Daisy is _______________________ 5. They have got lots of space. They can have a party. They’ve got _______________ 6. Paul is very rich. He can buy a yacht. Paul is ________________ 7. It’s hot outside. You can’t wear a coat. It’s _________________ 8. Mary is mature. She can make her own decision. Mary is ________________ 9. This flat is small. We can’t live in it any more. The flat is ________________ 10. Ron has a lot of patience. He can look after the children. Ron has _________
C. 1. I went to bed early last night because I was _____________ (stay) up late. 2. The soup is too hot. It isn’t _______________ (eat) yet. 3. She isn’t _________________ (reach) the top shelf, so she uses a ladder. 4. The children aren’t ____________ (attend) school yet. 5. It’s _________ (go) outside without a coat today. 6. The film was ___________ (watch), so we went for a meal instead. 7. Close the door, please. It isn’t ______________ (work) here. 8. The bag is ________________ (carry). Someone else will have to take it.
5. Rewrite the following sentences using for + to-infinitive.
A) 1. It’s quite natural that he should act like that. 2. It’s strange that he refuse to accept the invitation. 3. It’s customary that the chief should preside over the staff meetings. 4. It’s necessary that they should make the decision today. 5. It’s urgent that you should clarify all the details of the contract. 6. It’s advisable that they should place an advertisement in the newspaper. 7. It’s important that they should finish work today. 8. It would be a good idea that she should learn a foreign language. 9. It is impossible that she should let us down. 10. This is a lesson which you should remember for the rest of your life. 11. I’ll leave the magazine that you may read it. 12. The simplest thing is that he should come and see everything for himself. 13. The people gave way so that we might pass. 14. It is rather strange that they should leave without letting us know.
B) 1. Students should do their homework. It’s important _______________________. 2. Teachers should speak clearly. It’s necessary ______________________. 3. We don’t hurry. There’s plenty of time. It isn’t necessary ______________. 4. A fish can’t live out of water for more than a few minutes. It’s impossible __________________. 5. A child usually can’t sit still for a long time. It’s difficult ___________________. 6. Americans usually eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. It’s traditional ____________________. 7. People can travel to the Moon. Will it be possible __________________ next century. 8. The bride usually feeds the groom the first piece of wedding cake. It’s traditional __________________. 9. The guests usually wait until the hostess begins to eat. At a formal dinner party, it’s customary ___________________. 10. I usually can’t understand Mr Alan. It’s hard _________________. 11. Chemistry students should do lab experiments. It’s important __________________.
6. Complete the sentences using for + to- infinitive on your own.
1. The supermarket has a car park for the customers ______________. 2. The University has a gym for the students _____________ 3. The school has a playground for the children ____________ 4. The office has a canteen for the staff ____________ 5. The bus has a bin for the passengers ___________ 6. The youth club has a cloakroom for the members _______________7. The stepped aside for me ________________
7. Translate the sentences into English.
a) Use be + the first / second, etc. / last / best.
1. Він завжди першим відповідає на екзаменах. 2. Хто останній виходив із класу? 3. Вона завжди найкраще робить такі завдання. 4. Хто буде другим робити доповідь? 5. Він був першим, хто прояснив ситуацію. 6. Я хочу, щоб ви першим зробили вибір. 7. Він останнім поміняв своє ставлення стосовно цього питання. 8. Хто першим порушив це питання? 9. Він єдиний, хто прийняв таке рішення.
b) Use noun + to-infinitive.
1. Це дуже цікава справа для розслідування. 2. Це дуже незвичайний факт, який можна згадати в доповіді. 3. Ось людина, на яку можна покластися. 4. Це незручний момент, щоб обговорювати цю справу. 5. Це важливе рішення, яке треба ухвалити (approve). 6. Це гідний кандидат, якого можна призначити. (appoint)
c) Use wh+ to-infinitive.
1. Я не знаю, що треба робити, щоб уникнути (avoid) помилок. 2. Покажіть мені, будь ласка, де підписувати. 3. Я не можу вирішити, яку частину обрати для доповіді. 4. Я не знаю, як зв’язатися з представниками (representative) компанії. 5. Викладач пояснить, як вживати це правило. 6. Він запитав мене, як довго чекати на мене. 7. Я поцікавився, як записатися (make an appointment) до лікаря.
d) Use for + to-infinitive.
1. Дуже важливо, що ти прийняла рішення. 2. Доволі незвичайно, щоб вона запізнювалась. 3. Мені дуже важко не робити помилок. 4. День був дуже холодний та дощовий для того, щоб хтось добре відпочив. 5. Буде дуже добре, якщо ми проведемо кілька тижнів на морі. 6. Необхідно, щоб ви прийшли вчасно. 7. Зараз занадто рано, щоб вони обговорювали це питання. 8. Йому важко читати цей текст. 9. Мені важливо закінчити цю роботу сьогодні. 10. Мені легко зрозуміти це правило.
8. Fill in to when necessary.
1. He agreed … come and … help us with the task. 2. They explained how … use the new rule. 3. We saw her … talk to our teacher. 4. She was seen … talk to our teacher. 5. She helped me … fill in my application form. 6. You had better … go to the office at once. 7. It was clever of you … book the tickets in advance. 8. He was the first … arrive. 9. You should …. apologize for your behaviour. 10. I ought … find a job. 11. It was her ambition … open her own firm. 12. He is reluctant … help. 13. I would rather … accept their offer. 14. It’s important … have the entire information. 15. He made them … listen to him. 16. Let him … clarify this point. 17. She was made … work overtime.