The Infinitive as Attribute

The English infinitive functioning as an attribute is far more Sequent than the Russian infinitive. This is because in Russian the infinitive attribute can combine with abstract nouns only while in English it is used with a much wider range of words.

Thus it can modify:

1. nouns, both abstract and concrete:

Because of his quarrel with his family he was in no position to get the news.

The best thing to do would be to go back.

2. indefinite, negative and universal pronouns in -body, -thing,-one (one):

Have you anything to offer me?

He was someone to admire.

He had everything to make his life a happy one.

Note: Occasionally the infinitive can have the function of an attribute to personal and reflexive pronouns:

I've only you to look to.

Oh, but you have only yourself lo praise.

3. substantivized ordinal numerals (especially first) and the substan­tivized adjectives next and last:

Jack was the first to come.

She was the last to reach the hall.

4. the substantivized quantitative adjectives much, little, (no) more, (no) less, little more, enough:

A man in your position has so much to lose. I've no more to add.

Note: The infinitive attribute can also be used with the substantivized adverb nowhere: Now 1 had nobody to see, nowhere to go.

5. the noun-substitute one.

I am not the one to run about and discuss my affairs with other people.

The most common form of the infinitive functioning as an attribute is the non-perfect common aspect active voice form. The non-perfect common aspect passive form is also rather freely used, although, with certain semantic restrictions. Occasionally the perfect form of the active voice is also found in this position:

The "Watchman" was the only paper ever to have published any of Nevil's poems.

When performing the function of an attribute the infinitive is always used with the particle to. If there are two or more homogeneous attributes the second (and the following) retain to if joined asyndetically, but drop it if joined by conjunctions.

There was, however, my little Jean to look after, to take care of.

Did he give you any small parcel to bring back and deliver to anyone in England?

I suppose there’s nothing to be done, but comply and depart.

The relation between the attributive infinitive and its head word can be of four kinds: subjective, objective, adverbial and appositive.

1. In phrases with subjective relation the head word denotes:

a) the doer of the action of the infinitive (the most common case).The infinitive is always in the active voice:

But I wasn't the only person to bear you (who heard you).

There was nothing to take him into the city (which would take).

b) the bearer of the state expressed by an adjective or stativefollowing the infinitive of the verb to be:

He was not the man to be proud of his wealth. He is the last man to be afraid of you.

2. In phrases with objective relation the head word denotes anobject (direct or prepositional):

a) of an action denoted by the infinitive in the active or passiveform:

I have no money to give him: we are getting poor. But isn't there something to be done right now?

If the infinitive requires a prepositional object, the latter is placed after the infinitive:

Now I had nothing more to think about. There was Irene to be thought of.

b) of the state denoted by an adjective or a stative following theverb to be. As these adjectives and statives take prepositional objects,they are always followed by prepositions:

It isn't an idea to be proud of. He's done nothing to be ashamed of.

Note: In phrases with subjective and objective relations the attributive infinitive very often acquires a modal meaning, generally that of possibility or necessity:

He is not a man to be trusted. I've still got so much to do here.

3. In phrases with an adverbial relation the head word denotes thetime, place, or manner of the action expressed by the infinitive. Therange of nouns used in such phrases is semantically limited:

All this I saw in a moment, for I had only a moment to see in. (time relation)

I have no home to go. It was a wonderful place to be taken to. (space relation) .

This is the way to teach him. (relation of manner)

In phrases with an adverbial relation the infinitive usually has some modal meaning, generally that of possibility (see the examples above).

4. In phrases with an appositive relation the head word is an abstract ­noun which requires a certain explication of its meaning, andthe infinitive provides that explication:

She manifested the greatest anxiety to be on good terms with him. They had no desire to spread scandal, no desire to be ill-natured.

The active infinitive is the most common in appositive phrases, although the passive form is also used:

He had no wish to be seen there again.

Note: In phrases with an appositive relation the infinitive never has any modal meaning (see the sentences above).

The infinitive as an attribute may be introduced by a con­junction:

He had sought in vain for inspiration how to awaken love.

I had now an idea what to do.

The conjunctive infinitive phrase may be governed by a preposition:

They had no knowledge of how to live on. He's got no information about when to start.