68 For with the to-infinitive
AIntroduction
Sarah: I'll just ring the office. The boss is waiting for me to ring her back.
Mark: / don't think it was a good idea for you to bring that mobile phone on holiday with you, Sarah.
We can use for + object + to-infinitive. Here are some more examples.
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FOR |
OBJECT |
TO-INFINITIVE |
My mother has arranged |
for |
someone |
to look after her dog next week. |
It's difficult |
for |
unskilled people |
to find work these days. |
The crowd were impatient |
for |
the match |
to begin. |
It's a nuisance |
for |
you |
to have to wait. |
BFor expressing purpose
We can use this structure to say why something is done (to express purpose). (See also Unit 151E.
Mark photocopied the figures for the Sales Manager to have a look at. (= He photocopied the figures so that the Sales Manager could have a look at them.) The shop provides baskets for the customers to put their purchases in. I'd like to put forward a few suggestions for you to think about.
CToo and enough
We can use too and enough with this structure. The road is too busy for the children to cross safely. Unfortunately the table was too small for all of us to sit round. Fortunately the table was big enough for all of us to sit round. The guide didn't speak loudly enough for everyone to hear clearly.
D For and of
FOR
We often use for + object + to-infinitive after an adjective.
Harriet was anxious for the party to be a success.
Would it be possible for you to move your car, please?
Some of the adjectives we can use with for: anxious, awful, cheap, convenient, dangerous, difficult, eager, easy, exciting, expensive, friendly, good, happy, horrible, impatient, important, interesting, marvellous, necessary, nice, normal, polite, possible, ready, safe, sensible, silly, stupid, terrible, useful, willing, wonderful, wrong
Compare these two sentences.
It was good for you to come jogging. (=
It was good for your health.)
OF
After an adjective saying how someone behaves, we use of + object + to-infinitive.
It's kind of Melanie to put you up for the night.
(Melanie is kind.)
It was clever of you to work out the answer.
(You were clever.)
Some of the adjectives we can use with of: brave, careless, clever, foolish, generous, good, helpful, honest, intelligent, kind, mean, nice, polite, sensible, silly, stupid, wrong
It was good of you to come jogging with me. (= It was a kind action by you.)
68Exercises
1For with the to-infinitive (A)
The second person agrees with what the first one says. Use for and a to-infinitive. ►
Daniel: |
Andrew should take it easy. That would be best. |
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Matthew: |
Yes, you're right. It would be best for him to take it easy. |
1 |
Trevor: |
Our new computer should arrive soon. I just can't wait. |
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Laura: |
Me neither. I............................................................................................. |
2 |
Rachel: |
Matthew shouldn't marry Emma. It would be a mistake. |
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Vicky: |
I think so too. |
3 |
Customer: |
Advertisements should tell the truth. It's important. |
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Mark: |
I agree. .................................................................................................. |
2 For expressing purpose (B)
Write the advertisement for a holiday centre.
Match the sentence pairs and write sentences with for and a to-infinitive.
There are lots of activities. There's a fun pool. There are quiet areas. There are regular shows. There's a siant roller-coaster.
► There are lots of activities for guests to take part in.
1……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
2……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
3…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
4…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
You can enjoy them. You can relax in them. Guests can take part in them. You can ride on it if you dare. Children can swim in it.
3 Too and enough (C)
Add a sentence with too or enough and: difficult, funny, heavy, high, hot, loud
?Mike and Harriet couldn't lift the piano. It was too heavy for them to lift.
?Tom won't repeat the joke. It isn't funny enough for him to repeat.
1Emma can't reach the top shelf..................................................................................
2We can't understand the poem…………………………………………………….
3Not everyone could hear the music……………………………………………….
4The tea had got cold. Daniel couldn't drink it..………………………………….
4 For and of (D)
A)apanese company called Sanko is going to open a new factory in a town in England. Write the sentences from the local newspaper.
►marvellous / the town / have / some new jobs
It will be marvellous for the town to have some new jobs.
►clever / our local council / bring / Sanko / here
It was clever of our local council to bring Sanko here.
1difficult / the town / attract / new industry
It has been ...........................................................................................................................
2very generous / the council / give / the land / to Sanko
Itwas ................................................................................................................................
3the company / eager / production / begin / soon
Thecompany .....................................................................................................................
69 The infinitive with and without to
This is an overview of the different structures with a to-infinitive (e.g. to do) and an infinitive without to (e.g. do).
AThe to-infinitive
We use a to-infinitive:
1 After an adjective (see Unit 67)
It's nice to have a place of your own. The car is really cheap to run.
2After a noun
/must take a book to read. (— a book that I can read) We've got a few jobs to do. (= jobs that we must do)
3With be able to, be about to, be allowed to, be going to, have to, ought to and used to
We aren't allowed to park here. |
The game is about to start. |
We're going to buy a camcorder. |
You have to fill in a form. |
4 After some verbs, e.g. decide, hope, manage, offer (see Unit 60)
Tom decided to leave early. I hope to see you soon.
Did you manage to sort out the problem? Henry offered to pay for the meal.
5 After some verbs + object (see Unit 65)
Laura persuaded Trevor to put up some shelves. I want you to do something for me.
6 After for + object (see Unit 68)
We've arranged for you to visit our head office.
It is important for students to register with a doctor.
7 After a question word (see Unit 66)
We don't know where to leave our coats. This book tells you how to train race horses.
8 To say why (see Unit 151B)
Mark went out to play golf. I need the money to pay the phone bill.
B The infinitive without to
We use an infinitive without to: |
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1 |
After can, could, may, might, must, needn't, shall, should, will, and would |
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We could go to a night club. |
I must speak to the manager. It |
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might rain later. Sarah will be away for three days. |
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2 |
After had better and would rather |
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It's cold. You'd better wear a coat. I'd rather listen to Elvis than the Beatles. |
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3 |
After make + object and let + object |
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That programme was funny. It really made me laugh. |
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Trevor will be here at five. His boss is going to let him leave work early. |
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4 |
After see or hear + an object (see Unit 74) |
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They saw the lights come on. |
We all heard the bomb go off. |
CHelp
An infinitive after help can be with or without to.
Can I help (to) get the tea? Vicky helped me (to) choose a present.
69 Exercises
1 The to-infinitive (A)
Comment on these situations. Join each pair of sentences using a to-infinitive. ► Mike will give you a lift. He promised. You: Mike promised to give me a lift.
1You want to eat. You must have something.
You: I must .....................................................................................................
2You are having a rest. It's nice.
You: It's…………………………………………………………………………...
3Will Rita speak to Nick? He wants her to. Nick………………………………………………………………………………
4Daniel can't repair the video. He doesn't know how to.
5Claire and her sister are going to Bali. They have decided.
6Melanie is visiting David. She has gone to the hospital.
7Vicky is doing some studying. Unfortunately she has to.
8Sarah must ring the office. It's important.
2 The infinitive without to (B)
Put in the missing verbs. Usually more than one answer is correct. ► I've been repairing the car. I really must wash my hands.
1 |
What's in the letter? Why won't you let me ................. |
it? |
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2 |
Did you see that lovely old car ................ |
past a moment ago? |
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3 |
It was a terribly sad story. It made me .................. |
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4 |
I don't want to do anything energetic. I'd rather................. |
on the beach. |
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5 |
It's very cold. I think it might................ |
for the first time this winter. |
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6 |
I keep getting this pain in my leg. I think I'd better ................. |
a doctor. |
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3 The infinitive with and without to (A-B)
Matthew and Emma are at the railway station. Emma is going away for the weekend. Put |
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in the infinitive of the verbs. You have to decide whether or not you need to. Matthew: |
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Are you sure you'll (►) be (be) all right? |
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Emma: |
Yes, of course. I'm not a child. I can manage (►) to look (look) after myself. |
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Matthew: |
OK, sorry. |
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Emma: |
Some friends have invited me (1)........................ |
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(visit) them. I'm not going to the North Pole. |
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Matthew: |
It'll be nice for you (2) ...................... |
(see) your old friends again. I just know you're |
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going (3)....................... |
(have) lots of fun. Let me (4) ........................ |
(buy) you a magazine |
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(5)....................... |
(read) on the train. |
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Emma: |
I can't (6)....................... |
(read) when I'm travelling. It makes me (7)......................... |
(feel) |
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sick, even in a train. I'd rather just (8) |
....................... (look) out of the window. |
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Matthew: |
OK. Well, you'd better (9) ....................... |
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(get) in. I think it's about (10)......................... |
(leave). |
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Oh, did I remind you (11)....................... |
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Emma: |
Yes, Matthew, you did. Don't worry, I won't (12) ........................ |
(forget). I know perfectly well |
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how (13)....................... |
(get) there. |
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