3.6. Attribute

The infinitive as an attribute can modify nouns, indefinite and negative pronouns, ordinal numerals and the substantivised adjective last.

• They have set up a programme to relieve the poor.

• She went to buy something to eat. • They had nowhere to go.

• He was the last to arrive.

• She was the first to help me.

• We did not have the opportunity to buy it.

Sometimes the infinitive in this function expresses the idea of necessity, possibility or arrangement. In this case the infinitive is quite often passive:

• There were many things to be repaired (= 'which had to be repaired').

• They spoke about the conference to be held in September (= 'which was to be held in September').

• He is a man to rely on (= 'who can be relied on').

Note: The use of the passive infinitive is often optional and the active infinitive can be used instead. Compare, for example:

• There were many things to repair.

3.7. Adverbial modifier

1) Adverbial modifier of purpose

We can use the infinitive to denote purpose in a sentence where there is no change of grammatical subject. The infinitive is introduced by so as to or in order to.

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Минченков А. Г.

These are full links, which, however, can be shortened in informal English and only the full infinitive can be used:

• We are getting up at 7 о 'clock tomorrow to (in order to / so as to) catch the 8 o'clock train.

• She went to the airport to meet her sister.

• Fold the paper so as to have an envelope.

Note that the negative links are so as not to and in order not to. Neither link can be shortened:

• She trod quietly so as not to wake the child.

• She switched off the telephone in order not to be disturbed.

2) Adverbial modifier of result

Most often we find the infinitive denoting result in structures with too and enough:

a) too and the infinitive can form the following structures:

• She is too happy to say a word.

• He is too sensible a driver to take risks.

• Joan is too much of a bore to let it pass unnoticed.

• The bag is far/much too heavy for her to lift.

Notes:

1. We can use far or much before too for emphasis.

2. Mind the word order in structures like too sensible a driver.

3. Note that the infinitive is followed by a preposition if the verb requires one:

• The room is too cold to stay in.

b) enough and the infinitive form the following structures:

• He is a careful enough driver not to take risks.

• She was foolish enough to refuse.

• The eggs are not good enough to make an omelette with.

• There is not enough proof yet for us to make such sweeping conclusions.

Verbals

Note that the subject is never repeated after a preposition. It would be incorrect to say, for example:

* The eggs are not good enough to make an omelette with them. Note also that there exists a structure like He is enough of an optimist not to take it seriously, but it is not very common and it is better to express the same idea with He is too much of an optimist to take it seriously.

In questions it is normal to use such/so... as + the infinitive to express result:

• Was he such a fool (so foolish) as to refuse? The infinitive denotes result in the common request:

• Would you be so kind as to help me?

There are also some other structures with such... as + the infinitive:

• The case for the prosecution was such as to convince the whole of the jury.

• The system can be changed in such a way as to meet all the above-mentioned requirements.